Thursday, May 7, 1998
Bruins pay price of improper permit display
PARKING: Violators’ fines reduced at first offense only, but may
opt appeal
By Lawrence Ferchaw
Daily Bruin Contributor
Parking permit holders at UCLA who fail to properly display
their permits are given a break, but just once.
If a permit holder is cited by parking enforcement for not
displaying their permit, they have the citation reduced on their
first offense of the year. Instead of $30, violators are assessed
$10.
"As a matter of good customer service … we are willing to
reduce one citation per year as a sort of reminder," said Stephen
Rand, manager of enforcement, traffic and adjudication.
Previously, the first such offense was dismissed without a
fine.
"Didn’t I pay enough for the permit the first time around?"
asked Linda Nguyen, who was cited during spring break for having
the previous quarter’s permit displayed.
She said she feels the $10 fee was too high, suggesting that $5,
the cost of a one-day permit, would be more appropriate.
In 1995, Transportation Services did an analysis of their
services and fees. They discovered that each year, 5,500 cases of
permit holders not displaying their permits properly were
dismissed.
"The cost associated with issuing, processing and dismissing
(these citations) was borne by all permit holders across the board
in the form of higher permit fees," Rand said. Transportation
Services determined it would be more equitable for the fees to be
paid only by those drivers who forget to display their permits.
While the change in policy did not result in lower fees for
permit holders, Rand pointed out permit fees have not increased
since the new rule took effect.
The need to impose such a fee is the result of the independence
of the department. State law prohibits money from the university
going to the parking department to keep the department separate
from the rest of the university.
Rand pointed out that the change in policy, which took effect on
July 1, 1995, was made public and went through a review process by
student, faculty and administration groups.
While permit holders may not like the rule, it seems to have
worked to reduce the number of citations for permit holders failing
to display or properly display their permit.
The first fine serves as reminder to drivers to "take that extra
couple of seconds to make sure that the decal is either affixed to
the lower left-hand corner of the windshield or hanging from the
rear-view mirror," Rand said.
In the latest period, the number is down to approximately 2,500
citations reduced for first-time permit violations.
"I check not once, not twice, but 10 times before I leave my car
to make sure I have the right permit," Nguyen said. She also makes
sure that it is properly displayed.
On the subsequent citation for failure to display a permit and
all citations in general, people who are ticketed have the right to
appeal.
A person who gets a ticket can appeal to the citation review
office in writing and explain their case. The case is reviewed and
a letter is later sent to the appellant to either uphold or excuse
their case.
If upheld, the appellant can either pay the fine or appeal for a
hearing with Rand in which case the fine must be paid beforehand as
a matter of law. This can be excused in cases of hardship.
If the appellant is not satisfied with this decision, they can
go on to municipal court, the last stop in arguing a ticket. "My
fee was reduced on equitable grounds," said Sandra Falchetti, a
first-year law student, who got her fee reduced after a hearing
with Rand.