An example of illegal parking that will now result in ticketing and fines.
Cars resting with two wheels on the curb, half on the road and half on the sidewalk, were not an unusual sight at LMU over the past week. But illegal parkers beware; your grace period is officially over. LMU Chief of Campus Police and Security Bill Sowder said his officers would begin ticketing in earnest this week.
Dean of Administration Lisa Blair-Cox has been hard at work, reviewing and updating parking policy and fine structure. The LMU Office of Security is responsible for enforcing campus traffic regulations and conducting public safety activities. This group of individuals is dedicated to keeping our campus safe and they should be taken seriously and treated with respect.
Parking issues are a problem that plague campuses nationwide. There are universities that issue thousands more parking passes than they actually have spaces. And, in many cases, those students and faculty pay hefty prices with no absolute guarantee of a spot, let alone a desirable one.
Another example of illegal parking.
LMU parking is plentiful, but it is not always desirable. Most people, even residential students, jockey for spots close to the quad for classes at Avery, Farr-Chinnock and the Harold S. Finley Learning Resource center. Even the small lot in front of Kresge Hall fills quickly once classes are in session. It’s important that residential students remember their spaces are reserved around the residence halls and not in the commuter lots. The University now offers a shuttle service throughout the day to help students get to classes stretched all over campus.
Not only that, Cox and company have been reviewing current traffic policies and problem areas on campus. Recognizing the University’s growth has made specific areas like the dining hall during dining hours a real challenge in terms of parking, dining hall participants’ vehicles will not be ticketed during dining hours (with the exception of handicapped parking). Keep in mind, this is not a free pass to park on the lawn behind the dining hall during non-dining hours and if you leave your vehicle there, it will be ticketed.
The speed limit is marked in all areas around campus and drivers must obey all traffic signs, directional signs and directions/instructions from security. Speed is enforced by radar. If you blow by a security officer and they deem it unsafe to immediately stop and ticket you, you are not off the hook. The ticketing officer will record the vehicle description and license plate number in order to complete issuance of the ticket at the next available opportunity.
Absolutely no parking in handicap spaces unless official handicap tagging is visible. Handicapped parking tags can be obtained from the LMU Office of Security. These parking spaces are reserved exclusively for those students, staff, faculty and visitors who have handicapped parking authorization as indicated by state tags or by hang tags. Compliance is strictly enforced. Individuals failing to display parking authorization will be subjected to a $200 fine (in accordance with state law).
Parking on the grass will result in a higher fine.
All individuals that receive a ticket must either pay the fine or schedule an appointment in Traffic Court within 72 hours of ticket receipt. If one should get a parking or speeding ticket, fines may be paid at the Cashier’s Office in the Student Center, third floor, prior to or after Traffic Court. Failure to pay fines can result in a hold being placed on your account.
Traffic Violation Fines
Unregistered/ Illegal parking: $15.00
Speeding: $25.00
Reckless Driving: $50.00
Discarding/Tearing up of ticket: $50.00
Parking on grass or dirt area: $25.00
Unauthorized Handicap: $200.00 (in accordance with state law)
Parking in Fire Lane $75.00
If parking is not available at your assigned residential hall students are encouraged to utilize the Tex Turner Arena for overflow parking.
Another example of illegal parking.
AbeSquare 
There seems to be a lot of restrictions on residential students; no parking in the Avery/Farr lot, the Duke lot, the Museum lot, the JFWA lot, ect. I understand that there is overflow parking at Tex Turner and that there really isn’t a reason to walk to classes. Yes, walking a ways won’t kill you, it might even be good for you. I also agree that there should be parking set aside for teachers and for commuter students. However, what happens if a residential student needs to go off campus for a while and comes back to find the residential lot full of commuters trying get a spot close to the cafeteria? Are there any repercussions for commuters parking in residential spots?
What’s the likelihood of a numbered system being put into place for parking spaces? This could be done at the same time students register their cars at the beginning of the school year, or maybe even by seniority, although I admit that would create a lot more work than probably necessary. Each dorm could have an assigned number of spaces in it’s closest lot and then overflow at the arena. This way, everyone could be guaranteed a spot. Even if it’s not a great spot, at least you would know that you had one if you had to leave campus, especially if you are getting back late at night. This is not a feasible plan for commuters, but it might just make residential parking less of a headache.
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