COLUMN: Campus police should learn their own parking rules

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by George Hatoun

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The officer slowly opened the door to his car and drew his weapon. He pointed it at the car and fumbled with it for over a minute before discharging the device towards the vehicle.

When the sun rose the next morning over the alleged crime scene, it became obvious what had happened the night before, though at first glance the area seemed as tranquil as if nothing out of the ordinary had transpired.

However, upon closer inspection, it was as clear as the bright yellow envelope tucked under the windshield wiper of the car.

As I approached the car -- my car -- I retrieved the envelope and found the weapon's discharge from the night before -- a rain-soaked white piece of paper. It was a parking ticket.

I unfolded the fragile piece of paper. It was something truly remarkable. While I was parked in the Laboratory Road lot -- not more than ten feet from a sign on which were printed words to this effect. The ticket claimed that I was located in the central visitors' parking lot.

What's more, according to the university's own parking and traffic regulations handbook, I can legally park in either of those lots on a weekend, yet I got a ticket for this supposed crime.

Finally, the ticket claimed my car was not registered on campus even though a Sid Richardson College resident's lot sticker had been affixed to the lower left-hand portion of my bumper (and had been for a week), per the instructions on the sticker's packaging.

This was about the fifth incorrectly issued parking ticket that I have received in my three years here, so I knew what to do.

I drove over to the Campus Police station, discussed the ticket with the officer on duty and got nowhere because she did not have the authority to resolve the problem.

Finally, I filled out the parking ticket appeal form and returned home.

While I am sure that I will win the appeal, there is something wrong that is more important than a $10 parking ticket -- it is lack of care and responsibility on the part of at least some Campus Police officers for repeatedly making easily preventable mistakes.

I simply ask the following of Rice's finest:

* Read the signs;

* Read your own parking handbook;

* Look for Rice decals instead of assuming that one does not exist; you were issued a flashlight for a reason -- please use it;

* And find something better to do than issue a ticket to a car parked in an otherwise empty parking lot at 2:35 a.m. on a Sunday morning.

George Hatoun is the online project manager and a Sid Richardson College senior.

This item appeared in the Opinion section of the September 27, 1996 issue.

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