Parking violations on FAMU’s campus decreased by 19,699 tickets in the fiscal year 2003-2004, according to the University’s Parking Services Department.
In the 2002-2003 school year there were 46,299 parking violations compared to 26,600 violations in 2003-2004.
Michael Watson, coordinator of parking enforcement said the large difference of parking violations comes as a result of not having enough employees to cover specific parking zones.
“From 2003 to 2004, we were short four patrollers, so that was one of the reasons there was a large drop in tickets last year,” said Watson, whose been the parking enforcement coordinator for two and a half years.
“We didn’t have enough employees to patrol the necessary areas on a regular basis.”
Watson said with the employee shortage, Parking Services had a tough time enforcing parking rules and regulation to the fullest extent.
According to Watson, Parking Services records an average of 34,350 parking violations per year.
But they are making every effort to enhance the parking situation on campus.
“We are slowly making changes in our training that we do,” Watson said. “We’re trying to educate the community as to why we are writing tickets. We just want to be able to explain why we are writing tickets for parking in certain areas.”
Within the next month, Parking Services will be converting to a computerized ticketing system to help speed up the process with student registration as well as citing violators.
“With the new system the location and codes will be the same, so basically it is going to be good on time saving,” said Sgt. Anthony Gilson, whose been employed with Parking Services for 10 years.
But has parking improved? Many students don’t think so.
“It’s kind of a hassle trying to find a parking space,” said Takisha Cromartie, 18, a freshman political science student from Pensacola. “It’s a lot of people who park on campus and there’s not enough parking spaces to go around.”
Along with the problem of the quantity of parking spaces is that of convenient ones.
“There may not be enough convenient parking for students,” Watson said. “We constantly tell students to leave home a little early to give themselves time to find a parking space and be on time to their classes.”
Even with limited student parking, Parking Services said students should exhaust all of their options before parking illegally.
“In my opinion, there’s enough parking spaces, but not in the critical areas,” Gilson said. “I feel that students should utilize the University’s transit system more. The University has paid for it and the students should make good use of it.”
According to Parking Services, the University installed additional parking lots between Lee Hall and Foote Hilyer to help cure student parking troubles.
As for the new computerized ticket system, students are optimistic about the parking situation for the future.
“If it’s organized, I feel it’s going to be good for the University,” Cromartie said. “And a parking solution is something we need.”
Watson said in the coming months Parking Services and FAMU’s Student Government Association will meet in an open forum for students to ask any questions they have concerning parking.
“We’re trying to better the relationship between Parking Services and students, but sometimes that’s tough.” Services for 10 years.
But has parking improved? Many students don’t think so.
“It’s kind of a hassle trying to find a parking space,” said Takisha Cromartie, 18, a freshman political science student from Pensacola. “It’s a lot of people who park on campus and there’s not enough parking spaces to go around.”
Along with the problem of the quantity of parking spaces is that of convenient ones.
“There may not be enough convenient parking for students,” Watson said. “We constantly tell students to leave home a little early to give themselves time to find a parking space and be on time to their classes.”
Even with limited student parking, Parking Services said students should exhaust all of their options before parking illegally.
“In my opinion, there’s enough parking spaces, but not in the critical areas,” Gilson said. “I feel that students should utilize the University’s transit system more. The University has paid for it and the students should make good use of it.”
According to Parking Services, the University installed additional parking lots between Lee Hall and Foote Hilyer to help cure student parking troubles.
As for the new computerized ticket system, students are optimistic about the parking situation for the future.
“If it’s organized, I feel it’s going to be good for the University,” Cromartie said. “And a parking solution is something we need.”
Watson said in the coming months Parking Services and FAMU’s Student Government Association will meet in an open forum for students to ask any questions they have concerning parking.
“We’re trying to better the relationship between Parking Services and students, but sometimes that’s tough.”
Contact Ryan Boyd at famuannews@hotmail.com.