I am new to the East Lansing area, having just graduated from law school out-of-state.
I often study on campus to have a change of scenery. I recently decided to spend more time studying on campus, and purchased a series of visitor parking passes. Having come from a large out-of-state university, I am fully aware of the common practice used by university parking services.
I made sure I fully understood the specific area designated for visitor parking. I was told by two parking services employees that visitor parking is available to all facilities with the exception of the spaces designated with parking meters.
On June 7, I parked in the lot designated visitor and commuter parking on Shaw Lane directly across from the International Center. As I left the lot, the attendant proceeded to charge me $7 for parking, on top of the $5 it cost me for the visitors day pass.
As nice as the attendant was, she could not explain to me why I had to pay an additional $7 to park in a lot that is specifically designated for visitors.
When I approached parking services, they were also unable to provide me with a reasonable explanation.
Why would I take the time to purchase a visitor pass to park in a lot if I have to pay for parking anyway? If visitors are allowed to park there, then I am not running the risk of having my car ticketed for failure to have an MSU student parking sticker. The reason why you purchase a visitor pass is to avoid paying, isnt it?
This letter is to let parking services know I am on to you. In the future, maybe you should be a little more specific when telling visitors where to park.
I am quite sure if you tell visitors they will have to pay an additional fee to park, they will not be bothering you for the visitors pass.
Kevin Havens
Lansing resident