Parking citations just got a little livelier.As of last Thursday, students committing parking violations have been receiving colorful digitally printed tickets on their windshields in the place of the hand printed ones they are accustomed too.
Each parking officer is now equipped with a real-time TDS Recon 200 which is basically a handheld computer capable of digitally storing and printing citations. Parking supervisor Dempsey Wells said, “It was time for us to get into the 22nd century.” Therefore in addition to issuing parking violations, photographs will now accompany every citation for parking management records.
According to Tressy Wilson, director of auxiliary services, this new system should aid in the process of expeditiously adding fines to fees while improving customer service. “Doing everything manually was killing us, billing would sometimes be a month behind,” said Wilson.
Both Wells and Wilson advise students to take advantage of acquiring decals in advance to avoid receiving tickets. The summer and fall 2006 decals are now here and can be added to students’ fees.
Despite the new advances made in parking, violators may still appeal tickets on every other Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the MSC. However, they should heed Wells’ warning, “A picture is worth a thousand words.