Just because you pay an ungodly sum of money every semester for tuition doesn’t mean you can park anywhere you want on your college or university campus. The campus security or police department generates significant income from writing parking tickets to students, faculty, and visitors who park where they shouldn’t. And those parking tickets can really chew up your budget.
For example, the Washington Post reports that Oklahoma State University wrote more than 18,000 parking citations in a nine-month period. Other colleges and universities boast similar statistics, primarily because it is a valuable source of revenue for schools.
So how do you avoid parking tickets on campus?
Buy Parking Permits
One of the easiest ways to avoid parking citations on college campuses is by purchasing permits for the parking lots closest to your dorm, classes, library, or other frequently visited sites. These permits can run anywhere from $100 to more than $400, depending on where you to go school, but they pay for themselves after you avoid a couple dozen parking tickets.
Keep in mind, however, that parking permits are often sold just for certain areas of campus. If you park outside those designated areas, you could still receive parking tickets. Look for number- or color-coding systems to help you determine where you are legally allowed to park.
Take the Bus
Many colleges and universities offer bus systems that transport students and faculty around campus. They might run every fifteen, twenty, or thirty minutes, and you can usually find schedules posted in dorms and classroom buildings. This way, you can park off-campus and get shuttled where you need to go.
The key to this strategy is timing. You’ll need to know when the buses arrive near your departure location and how long it takes to arrive at your destination. If you’re taking the shuttle to class to avoid parking tickets on campus, consider taking a shuttle fifteen or twenty minutes ahead of when you think you need to leave so there aren’t any surprises.
Scope Out the Lots
Some college campuses have free parking areas in certain areas. This is becoming less common because, as mentioned above, the revenue from parking tickets and from parking passes makes it attractive to restrict parking everywhere. However, you should find out if there are free lots.
Some lots aren’t free, but allow you to park using a meter or other timed system. If this is the case, keep quarters and ones with you everywhere you go. Don’t keep money in the car–that’s an invitation to thieves–but perhaps in your purse, shoe, pockets, or backpack.
Overestimate Time
If you’ve ever visited the admissions office or other administrative area of a college campus, you know that lines are long and that they move slowly. If you’ve chosen metered parking, overestimate the amount of time you think you’ll spend at your destination. This can even be an issue when attending classes, as you never know when you’ll get hung up.
It isn’t always possible to avoid parking tickets on campus. You’re running late for a class or you need to stop by the computer center to print off a report. Whatever the case, a parking ticket isn’t the end of the world. Just don’t forget to pay the fine, or you might not be able to graduate.
