Colin Gill, a 23-year-old senior studying social science, worked at the MTC, where he got off work at noon. Gill had an iClicker quiz in biology at 12:05 p.m. He chose to park in the staff parking lot behind the Clyde Building to make it to class on time.
“It was the most expensive B+ I’ve ever received,” Gill said.
For students like Gill, parking illegally is a type of game in which students balance laziness, scheduling and desperation.
Parking is a BYU campus challenge for students to get creative and find hidden lots. BYU parking struggles affect students living both on and off campus.
Bonnie Nielsen, a freshman studying studio art, lives in Heritage Halls. She parks at the LaVell Edwards Stadium because of construction in the New Heritage housing area.
“There’s parking closer to me, but it’s only temporary, so if I park there I have to move it within a couple hours or I get a ticket,” Nielsen said.
Parking on BYU’s campus is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Finding a parking spot after 8 a.m. is almost impossible, unless students know where to go.
According to BYU police Lt. Arnie Lemmon, BYU is one of a few campuses that provide a substantial amount of free parking.
Lemmon said police enforce parking regulations to bring organization to parking. “It is a non-revenue-generating operation … to be fair with everyone and to provide the best parking possible,” he said.
BYU parking lots are heavily patrolled between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., according to Lemmon. BYU Police personnel consider the wellness of students and faculty as they regulate parking on campus, and tickets help enforce the rules.
One of the best ways to avoid a parking ticket is to walk to campus, but walking is neither quick nor convenient.
Undergraduate students who wish to avoid parking illegally should not park anywhere other than the Y lots. These lots are reserved for students. Safe places to park include the parking lot by the Smith Fieldhouse and the Marriott Center.
The colors of the parking lines designate student or faculty parking. Yellow lines represent faculty parking, and white lines represent student parking.
Undergraduate students should not park in the G, A, C, B and R lots. G lots are reserved for graduate students; A lots are reserved for faculty and staff; C lots are reserved for students living in Helaman Halls; B lots are reserved for students living in Heritage Halls; and R lots are reserved for visitors.
BYU Police know students are capable of trying to pull off scams, such as the “ticket scam.”
A “ticket scam” happens when students put an old citation on the windshield of the car to make it look like the car has already been ticketed. Students may receive up to $100 in fines and could be reported to the Honor Code Office if police find a ticket scam.
If students receive more than seven citations in a 12-month period, their vehicles will be banned from parking on any BYU property, streets or roads. If the vehicle violates the ban, the student will receive a $300 citation or a boot.
If a student does not pay ticket fines, a hold is placed on the student’s account until the fine is paid.
Even non-BYU students are held accountable for paying tickets. The vehicle license plate number is recorded when a citation is written. The citation is linked to the vehicle instead of the driver.
If a ticket is not paid within a couple weeks of the date the citation was written, BYU Police finds the vehicle owner using state registration. The fine is then transferred to collections.
Some parking punishments force students to pay immediately, as in the case of car boots or tows. Parking in the wrong spot or without a designated sticker could result in $60 or more of fines. The boot will not be removed until payment is received.
Bike-riding students also fall subject to tickets. Bikes must be registered and licensed, or the bike will be impounded.
Parking or transportation fees may be paid online or at the cashier window in the ASB. Students receive a $10 reduction if the ticket is paid online within the first week the citation was written.
For further questions on parking or regulations, visit the police department in Room 2120 of the Joseph Knight Building.
