THE PROSPECTOR Assayer of Student Opinion
UNIVERSITY of TEXAS at EL PASO Summer 2007
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Finding parking on campus can be a hassle, especially the first few weeks of school.
Daniel Collins Staff Reporter Each day, thousands of students commute to campus, flooding the university with vehicles. Competing for spaces and rushing to make it to their classes on time is part of many students’ daily routine. Freshmen need to know that failing to follow parking guidelines or using the appropriate parking decal may hit them hard in the pocketbook.
Buy parking permits
Parking and Transportation Services have posted permit prices online on their Web site at www.parking.utep.edu. For the 2007-2008 school year, silver premium parking permits cost $175, regular perimeter lots cost $125 and remote lots cost $75. These permits can be applied to more than one vehicle, giving students who car pool the option of switching decals to other cars. There are five silver student premium parking lots close to the main campus. Students who purchase the limited silver parking permits are guaranteed parking whenever they arrive on campus. “I can get there five minutes before my classes and still find parking,” said Monet Muñoz, junior history major. “When I get there and when I leave there’s always maybe half the parking lot still empty.” Students who purchase remote parking permits may have to allow more time to get to class. The Miner Metro shuttle service transports students from parking lots to the main campus. “The Miner Metro is useful if you don’t want to spend a large
amount of money,” said Adam Ortega, freshman business major. Some students have complained that the shuttle’s unreliability makes them late to class. The Miner Metro’s east and west routes run every 20 minutes, from 7:25 a.m. through 5:40 p.m. on weekdays. Due to the construction of a new parking garage, one parking lot was closed last year. With construction nearly finished, students and faculty should expect access to 1,667 new parking spaces by the beginning of the fall semester. Permit holders for the new garage will have an electronic tag on their vehicles that will activate an automated gate, allowing access only to students with appropriate tags, said Emilio Martinez, director of parking. “It’s actually an intelligent parking garage in that it tracks the number of vehicles inside,” Martinez said. Prices for these parking permits have not yet been determined.
Avoiding tickets
Students can receive parking citations for parking in non-parking or emergency spaces, for neglecting to place their parking decal on the windows of their vehicles, or for parking in a location other than the one specified by their decal. “A false sense of security seems to exist,” Martinez said. “There’s a perception that these vehicles won’t be found when they are in a sea of cars and that’s not necessarily the case.” Students may pay fines online on the parking Web site or at
the Academic Services Building, room 122. If students believe they received a parking violation in error or have compelling circumstances to dismiss the ticket, they also have the option of filing an appeal online or in person. Student appeals are reviewed by judges appointed by the Student Government Association (SGA). “If the student doesn’t agree with the response from SGA, they do have a second appeal option,” said Mary Jauregui, office supervisor for parking and transportation. Jauregui said citation fees range from $10 for an expired parking meter to $60 for parking in a handicapped parking space. Should the same vehicle be ticketed for parking in a handicapped space more than once, a $25 fee will be added. Failure to pay the citation or file an appeal within 18 days will result in a $15 late fee. A boot will be placed on cars that have five or more parking violations. The boot costs $50 to remove. Booted cars risk being impounded if the owner doesn’t contact the department within 72 hours. At least one car on campus gets booted daily, Jauregui said. Muñoz’ advice for students is, “Get there early. If you’re going to buy one of the perimeter permits, you might not find parking right away.” Daniel Collins may be reached at dcollins@utep.edu.
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