Sunday, September 29, 2024

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Paying the price

Students who illegally park shouldn't be surprised by a ticket; parking enforcers doing their jobs, no reason to abuse them

No one likes getting parking tickets.

That sense of dread when you see the white paper flapping on the windshield.

The rising anger at the ticket because you're only a little bit late feeding the meter.

Most of us have gotten upset at a ticket, and sometimes we glare at the person from the MSU Department of Police and Public Safety Parking Division who is giving us the ticket and let out an exasperated sigh.

After all, the parking situation at MSU isn't great, and sometimes we park places we know we shouldn't.

But we shouldn't swear, throw stuff, spit or try to physically harm the parking enforcers. That kind of behavior is what some former student parking enforcers report happening to them when doing their jobs.

In one instance, an official from the department said people lifted the vehicle while the parking enforcer was still inside.

This makes perfect sense because there's no better way to get rid of a parking ticket than to get arrested for assault. Are we really this immature?

When most students get tickets, it's because they did something illegal.

Park in a space you shouldn't or don't put enough money in the meter and expect a ticket.

Be mature about it and understand that most parking enforcers are just trying to do their jobs, no matter how much we might dislike it.

Take the issue to court, where the parking enforcers — if they still work there and are available — must show up to represent the department.

If you feel especially wronged by a ticket, make them defend the decision in court, not out in the parking lot.

It can be annoying to get a ticket for a minor infraction, but student parking enforcers must be unbiased. It might seem unfair that they are giving their fellow students tickets, but we can't ask them to make judgment calls because the offender is a student.

Someone has got to do the job and students need the jobs. We all have to be adults and just deal with it.

Driving on campus instead of taking the bus or a bicycle is a convenience, one we sometimes pay for with parking tickets.

At the same time, a little understanding from parking enforcers would be nice.

Sometimes we get to the parking meter a little late. Cut us some slack if we're only a little bit over.

Until then, glare, mutter something under your breath or complain, but don't take direct action against a parking enforcer.

Ultimately, we are responsible for where we park our cars and must deal with the consequences.

And the tickets.

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