University of Central Oklahoma
TUESDAY November 25, 1997
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The Student Voice Since 1903
Parking meter malfunctions costly for students By Steven E. Wedel Staff Writer
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ommuters who use the metered parking north of Lillard Administration Building are often getting less than they pay for, an investigation by The Vista revealed last week. Reporters began investigating the parking meters in response to concerns voiced by UCO students, including senior Retta Threet. She claimed that university parking officers engage in aggressive ticketing and that many meters may be malfunctioning. "I have watched one friend put money in a meter only to have the meter eat it and give her no time," Threet said. "I propose that if the meter readers are so anxious to write the tickets they ought to be just as anxious to ensure that the meters are working properly," said Threet. A study done by The Vista showed that Threet's concerns may be valid. Reporters tested several of the meters Sunday afternoon. Of the seven meters tested, only one expired within 30 seconds of the correct time. Meter #9 was the worstâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;it took the coins and gave no time. Meter #58, meanwhile, gave 24 minutes for a dime; it was only supposed to allow 12 minutes. Another dime was put into #25, which advanced the needle to 11 minutes rather than 12, but the time expired after only 10 minutes. The meter that fared best on the test was #1, which expired only 20 seconds early.
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Such a time discrepancy may not seem much, but as Melanie Spoon, a senior elementary education major, said, for a student who is trying to hurry from class to car, a few seconds can make a difference. In the case of a metered parking fine, the difference is $5, according to Greg UCO junior Tunnell, manager of Stephen Hughes UCO's Parking jumps off the seats Services. of the Broncho "It's not fair," said Ampitheatre. Spoon. She said she has a Hughes took advantage of the class that lasts 50 minutes. She said she nice weather last week to do some deposited two quarters into a parking meter "sidewalk surfing." Thursday, which should (Staff photo by have given her 60 Bryan Terry) minutes of parking time, but her meter expired before she returned. "I watched him (the Parking Services the lines of parked cars, jiggling meter attendant) sit around, leaning on people's cranks and writing tickets. Tunnell, the cars and looking at his watch, just waiting attendant's supervisor, also refused to for the time to expire," Spoon said. identify him. Spoon said many students believe When questioned about his activities, parking attendants turn the meter cranks the attendant was reluctant to comment. to make the timer needles drop early. "People are likely to tell you "We all sit in class and watch (them) anything," he said when asked about jiggle the meters," Spoon said. meters that may not be keeping time One parking attendant, who refused to accurately. give his name, was spotted walking along
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He noted that there are often discrepancies between students' wristwatches and other timepieces, including the clock on the Old North tower. Tunnell, manager of University Parking Services, said the accusations that parking attendants tamper with the meters to make them expire early are â&#x20AC;˘ see METERS, page 4
INSIDE TODAY ,
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GUILD AAUP nominates UCO's Guild for regional representative.
SPORTS Matt Goodson places second in weekend tourney.
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