Advanced Reporting- Meghan Hutchinson

Meghan Hutchinson

November 8, 2011

Advanced Reporting 377

How to Appeal a Parking Ticket, Is it Worth the Hassle?

The ongoing gossip and buzz that has been going on since late August is the frustration of lack of parking spots on the Ole Miss campus.

Students and faculty were well aware of the fact that this year’s incoming freshmen class was the biggest it has ever been in Ole Miss history. And a bigger university means more cars, less parking spots, and more tickets being distributed.

In early September of this year, the Daily Mississippian the University of Mississippi’s school newspaper ran an article on how the university parking services over-sold commuter decals. This caused uproar with students who have to park in commuter parking.

With a lack of parking, many students and faculty have no choice but to park in un-designated spots around campus. The result, people are receiving parking tickets left and right.

“Students and faculty have the right to appeal parking tickets if they wish to” said Parking Services Director Linda Christian.

Many students and faculty want to know about the process of how to appeal a parking ticket.

According to the University of Mississippi website, Students and faculty are entitled to a hearing before a Board of Appeals. Students are to be heard by the Student Board of Appeals, and faculty is to be heard by the Faculty/Staff Board of Appeals.

“I have been ticketed for no reason at all,” said Shane Pierotti, a student at Ole Miss.

“I have gone about to try to appeal my parking tickets but it has never been successful. I feel like it is almost pointless to try to appeal a ticket”.

“I am trying to appeal a ticket that I got for no reason, but I have no evidence to back me up, that says otherwise”.

According to the university traffic appeals procedure, students can make an appeal in person or in writing. When making an oral appeal, the student is to appear before the board with the subject ticket and their University of Mississippi student ID.

If faculty and staff want to go about making an appeal to the Faculty/Staff Appeal Board, they have to follow the same guidelines. When making an oral appeal to the Faculty/Staff Appeals Board, the person is to appear before the board with the copy of the subject ticket and their University of Mississippi employee ID.

Students can pick up can pick up a written appeal form in the Office of the Dean of Students in the Student Union Building Room 401.

Faculty and staff, and also students can pick up a written appeal at University Police Departments Parking Services Office in Kinard Hall between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays. Students must submit their written appeal with the subject ticket attached to it to the Office of the Dean of Students or University Police Department Parking Services Office by noon of the court date specified on the ticket.

Each person who files an appeal has the right to go in front of a board and provide evidence, answer questions, and be able to question witnesses. A university police officer will be present and be there in case of need of clarification.

Whatever decision either the Student Board of Appeals comes up with or the Faculty/Staff board of appeals comes up with is to be final. Students will be billed to their bursar accounts and will have to pay the fine within 30 days. And faculty/staff will have the ticket amount deducted from their payroll.

During fall and spring semester of 2010 the University Parking Services issued 3265 parking decals to faculty and staff, and 13,045 parking decals to students.

In the fall semester of 2010 University Parking Services gave out 16250 parking citations. In the spring semester of 2010 University Parking Services gave out 17403 parking citations.

“We don’t see many people come and appeal their parking tickets” said Christian.

“When people do come to appeal parking tickets, it ends up being a big hassle. Most of the time people don’t have a valid excuse or all the right material with them. People usually just eventually pay the fine and their tickets are off their bursar accounts”.

So in the long run, going through the process of trying to appeal a parking ticket is a hassle. The best way to avoid a parking ticket is to park where you are designated to park. Yes, you might have to walk a little extra, but you are saving money in the long run.

Sources:

Shane Pierotti: 901-268-2151

Linda Christian: 662-915-7235

http://www.olemiss.edu/police/parkingservices.html