Parking: Why It’s Important

                Everyone loves their car. A lot of people see their car as an extension of their personality, and because of this are very protective of their car.  I’m one of those people.  I really like my car, and I want to drive it everywhere I can.  But there is one place where I am always reluctant to drive. That place is Provo, home to a long-standing war between parking enforcement personnel and BYU and UVU students. I address my paper to the Provo police and other parking enforcers who, I hope, will be willing to listen to my suggestions and gain a better understanding of the students’ views on this sensitive topic.  The result, I believe, would be fewer tickets and better relations between the parking enforcement personnel and the community they serve.  

With this issue parking enforcers stand at one end, diligently trying to fulfill their jobs to the highest degree possible. They understand the laws and regulations that govern parking in the city, and are trying to enforce them to keep the city streets orderly and safe.  The enforcement tools are tickets and towing, and the belief that without enforcement parking would soon become unmanageable and unsafe. Without tickets and towing, what would stop students from parking in an unsafe manner or in spaces that are rightly reserved for faculty and staff, for business use, and for people who are paying to live in apartments? Thus enforcers view the tickets and tows as a good thing because this enforces the rules and punishes offenders, while helping to maintain an orderly society.  This is all true. I understand and acknowledge the essential role that they play in maintaining order and ensuring safety.  But there is a better way to achieve that same goal. But before I describe it, I think we need to consider the other side of the story – the students’ side.

Parking is a touchy subject for many BYU and UVU students and Provo residents because many have been with what they see as unfair or excessively picky parking tickets.  It seems like almost everyone at BYU has a story about someone receiving a parking ticket, or a boot, or a tow for a very minor infraction. Many of these infractions were committed unintentionally because the driver was not familiar with the often confusing rules of parking enforcement in Provo. Let me share a few of those stories.  One friend’s car sat in a parking spot that was one parking spot out of his apartment building’s allocation.  He lives in an apartment that shares a parking lot with other houses, and each apartment or house uses a different parking sticker and is allocated a certain number of parking spaces. The spaces aren’t well marked, and my friend, who didn’t know he was doing anything wrong, parked his car one spot outside the limit of his apartment. During the night his car was towed, costing him one hundred and fifty dollars plus the time and stress involved in getting his car back.  Several friends have been cited for parking more than 12 inches away from the curb, which appears to be the infraction of choice among some parking enforcers. My brother was cited for parking over the line of the parking space on a Sunday when he was rushing and late for church.  The lot was mostly empty, so he was not denying anyone space to park.  Another friend’s car was towed for parking on a street where parking was not allowed between midnight and six AM, a fact that was unknown to him since there was no sign posted on the street where he had parked.  He later discovered that the parking restriction was only noted on a small sign at the entrance to the subdivision.  Other friends have been towed for parking at a certain restaurant after hours, mistakenly assuming that the “customer only” restrictions on a lot wouldn’t need to be enforced when the restaurant is closed. These are just a few of the countless examples where students were ticketed or towed for what they see as petty, harmless and unintentional parking infractions.      

Of course, in the examples described previously, all the people that were cited were, technically, in the wrong. These may not have been major infractions, but they were true parking violations. My friend was taking up a spot that someone else had paid for and was expecting to use.  My brother was parking out of the lines.  My friend’s car was on a street where there was no overnight parking, and my friends were parking in a “customers only” lot.   So really, weren’t the parking enforcement personnel just doing their jobs? But why is it always a ticket? Why can’t there be a warning for minor, first time infractions? When my brother parked a touch outside the lines in a nearly-empty lot, couldn’t the point have been made with a simple warning? Wouldn’t this accomplish the same thing – getting him to be more careful next time – but without costing him a lot of money?

Like my friend here who has to pay three parking tickets for failing to park within three inches of the curb.

So what is the “better way” I referred to for solving Provo’s parking problems? Parking enforcers should give warnings for minor infractions and for most first time offenses. Cut them a break.  Students deserve an understanding of parking regulations which is their right and the opportunity to focus on the more important things of life that will determine their future. After all, most students are in the “starving students” category, and the money paid on tickets and towing will be a large part of their monthly budget and will make a difference in their lives. Being ticketed or towed is a fear all students with cars live with, but using warnings would alert students to the rules and generate a more favorable opinion of the police in the eyes of the students.  Also, after getting off with a warning, most students would learn and be much more careful the next time when they would be risking a ticket.  Of course, for repeat offenders or for violations that are flagrant or truly harming someone or causing an unsafe condition, then a ticket should be issued. We understand the need for rules and for consequences when those rules are knowingly broken and we fully support the police in these situations.  We want a safe and orderly society.  But what we ask for is a little more mercy and understanding, and some patience in helping students learn the rules. Giving out warnings on the first violation is a perfect example of this. This will truly help to solve the parking problem, promote awareness of the laws, and in the end create a better atmosphere for all of us to enjoy together.  

We do acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of the police in promoting awareness of the rules which is found here: https://police.byu.edu/content/parking-services-general-information