The process for getting out of parking tickets received on campus will soon be a little easier. Starting later in the semester, students will be able to appeal parking tickets to the Student Government Supreme Court, rather than going through the Parking Services Department.
All on-campus parking spots, including those in the garage and other lots, can be appealed. City-run two-hour and metered parking spots do not qualify, as the school does not maintain them.
Alex Johnson, chief justice of the SG Supreme Court, and Andrew DeFraties, director of community and government relations, are heading the appeal process change.
The idea of appealing parking tickets through SG is not unheard of. The process is already in place at USF Tampa and a few other state colleges, such as the University of North Florida.
One reason Johnson and DeFraties wanted to bring this practice to USFSP was to give more work to the Supreme Court, establishing something constant for it to do. It will also give the court a way to unite with other SG branches, serving students in conjunction.
Johnson said the change will give students a way to appeal to other students, rather than university officials. Students feel more comfortable talking in front of their peers than a committee, he said.
It will also give a new challenge to SG. However, Johnson wants to stress the point that even though students will appeal in front of other students, the guidelines will remain the same. The court went through two training sessions, prompting them to take appeal cases seriously and not go easy.
Although they will be able to use more discretion than the previous appeals committee, simple ignorance of a rule will still not be excuse. Defenses such as, “You’re a student, so you know what I’m going through,” or other defenses related to being “fellow students” will not work either, Johnson said.
The new process is still being worked on and should be in effect later in the semester. SG will give a presentation to the student body explaining the process before it starts so students will know how it works.
Parking violation costs
(According to the 2013-2014 Parking Services brochure)
Unauthorized parking in a disabled space – $275
Blocking access to a disabled space/ramp – $275
Displaying an altered, stolen, lost, revoked or counterfeit permit – $125 (and parking for one year restricted and/or loss of campus parking privileges)
Blocking a ramp – $75
Unauthorized parking in a reserved space – $75
Unauthorized parking in a service drive or on grass – $40
No current decal/permit displayed – $30
Unauthorized parking in state vehicle Space – $30
Failure to park in assigned lot – $30
Blocking traffic – $30
Parking in “No Parking” zone or barricaded area – $30
Parking in an angled parking space facing traffic – $15
Double parked or parked over line – $15
Improper parking permit display – $15
Overtime violation – $15
