Some see parking tickets as unfair

Some drivers parking in UCLA lots have recently reported that they have received tickets for parking their cars out of their spaces.

And though parking officials say citations are only given when a car severely impedes the adjacent stall, some people who have received tickets say they believe the citations were unfair, as their cars were not far over the markings.

Steve Rand, manager of traffic, special events and adjudication of UCLA transportation, said parking outside a marked stall means that any portion of the vehicle is outside the confines of the stall markings.

He said parking officers give a $42 citation when a car blocks a regular adjacent space, and a $350 citation when a car blocks a handicapped space.

In early April when parking in Lot 5, Jeff Fang, who frequently parks at UCLA because his wife is an employee, said he received a $450 parking ticket for parking out of the stall into a handicapped spot. Since his son is handicapped, he went to park in the handicapped space; because it was taken, he parked next to it.

He said he needed to park the car so that one tire was a few inches over the white line in order to be able to open the door completely so his son could get out of the car.

Fang contested the ticket that week, and three weeks later his fine was reduced to $42.

Rand said there are some subjective factors involved in making the judgement about whether to issue these tickets, and they try to be as fair as possible.

“We don’t want to issue these citations,” he said.

Still, some people believe they have received tickets when they have not severely obstructed another stall.

Mina Ma, an assistant clinical professor of medicine, also said she received a parking ticket in mid-April. When parking in Lot 1, she parked in a corner spot, and one of her tires was between the two white lines to avoid a pole next to her spot. She received a $42 ticket, and the citation said she was 15 percent out of the stall.

Soon after she received her ticket, three of her colleagues told her they received tickets for the same reason.

“These tickets frustrate me, but at least I can afford mine. It’s outrageous for students,” Ma said.

Tom Early, a UCLA medical director, said he received a $350 ticket for impeding a handicapped space when he parked a few inches over the white line to avoid the car next to him, which was also outside of its spot. He said he believes parking officers should give a warning before handing out these tickets.

“I talked to the officer that gave me the ticket and he said two inches over a line was reason enough to give a ticket,” he said.

Eric Lew, associate director of UCLA transportation and parking services, said he believes he has to take into consideration both sides of the problem. He said he receives complaints from people who believe they have received unfair tickets as well as from people who say they cannot get into their car because someone has parked over the line.

“We try to balance it for everyone,” he said.

Lew added that he has not noticed an increase in appeals this year.

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