Parking citations are on the rise this semester at Ventura College, now that parking machines are operating and rules are being strictly enforced.
“Parking permit machines were broken during most of the fall 2006 semester due to the unavailability of the part needed to make the repairs,” said Lt. Bob Escobedo, supervisor of campus police at Ventura College. “Since visitors to the campus were unable to purchase day passes, campus police were unable to cite any vehicles for the lack of a parking permit.”
The parking permit machines are now in operating order and parking permits are required in all campus lots.
Parking permits are $40 and permits purchased at Ventura College are also valid at Oxnard and Moorpark campuses.
Permits on vehicles must be displayed on the back of the inside of the rearview mirror, and on the left front shock bar on motorcycles and motor scooters.
Daily parking permits for guests may be purchased for $1 and must be displayed on the dashboard.
Although the parking rules are displayed in all student lots, citations are being issued on a daily basis.
A Ventura College campus police cadet who wished not to be identified said that she has written up to 50 citations in one day, but on an average day she writes anywhere from five to 17 citations.
“The majority of the problem comes in when people don’t have stickers and don’t buy day passes,” said the cadet.
Escobedo said five officers are assigned to lot patrols 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The beginning of the semester is always the busiest for citation issuing and it continues to drop as the semester progresses.
Parking in a stall without a parking permit will result in a $35 citation. Those who park in handicapped parking stalls without a handicapped placard, or who block the stall, will receive a $280 citation.
There is an appeal process for students who feel they are wrongly cited.
Students can either make an inquiry with the on-campus police department and fill out the appropriate form or write a letter to the citation-processing agency contesting the citation.
The appeals must be done within 21 days of the issue date.
Students interested in obtaining more information about parking permits can call the Student Business Office at Ventura College at (805) 654-6488.
