By The Beacon Editorial Staff
The ticketing of student cars parked on residential streets around the University of Portland highlights several conflicts between the University, students and the University Park neighborhood.
Because of an agreement between UP and the neighborhood association of University Park, Public Safety tickets non-resident students who park on designated streets off campus.
Residents of the University Park neighborhood should, of course, be able to park in front of their own houses. The ticketing policy has a good goal of maintaining a respectful relationship between students and University Park residents. The agreement between UP and the neighborhood association is a clear attempt to ensure parking spaces are available for these residents.
Ticketing may be perceived as unfair by UP students. However, the ticketing policy is just one University regulation students agreed to follow when they are enrolled at the university. It is unusual, however, that University policy would supersede the city's laws about parking on public streets.
Although we recognize the Public Safety officers can ticket students off campus, it doesn't mean they should. In fact, there is a plethora of reasons that the University should abolish the policy.
First, although Public Safety allows tickets to be thrown out if the owner of the vehicle can provide proof of residency, the chore of having to go to Public Safety is just as irritating as someone parking in your spot.
Second, since these regulations apply only on school days from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., they hardly solve the parking issues most residents face. The times that most residents would have a problem with students or other drivers parking in front of their homes would be when they come home from work, usually after 4 p.m. Residents also experience problems with parking during soccer games, but games usually occur on the weekends and in the evenings when the regulations do not apply.
Finally, as there are no signs on the streets that are designated off limits on school days from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., many students are not aware that they may be ticketed.
Most students are aware of the parking limitations on campus because the parking areas are clearly marked. At the very least, Public Safety should find a more clear way of showing students where it is not okay to park off campus instead of simply listing the regulations in the 10-page parking information pamphlet that is buried on its website.
Better yet, the University policy of ticketing cars parked off campus should be abolished. Let's face it: it isn't solving the problem of residents' spots being taken. Furthermore the policy creates irritation for students, residents and is largely unknown to students.
The University should do away with this policy that causes more frustration than good.
