The following are situations that are not accepted as valid circumstances for parking violations to be dismissed. Appeals submitted based solely upon these reasons will not be considered.
- Lack of a parking permit
All motor vehicles possessed or used on campus must have a parking permit to park. Forgetting to display your parking permit is also not a valid reason.
- Based on how long you were parked in violation
Officers will issue a citation to any vehicle parked in violation of regulations. An appeal that states that the vehicle was only parked for two minutes, five minutes, etc is not considered valid. A parking restriction holds for parking of any period of time.
- You need to get to class/work/an appointment on time
It typically requires a few minutes to locate a parking pace within the campus parking system. It is suggested that drivers plan their schedules such that there is sufficient time to find and park in a legal space in a lot valid for their permit.
- Lack of parking space near your destination
Parking spaces are very competitive, and the campus parking system does not guarantee a space in a specific lot. Drivers must park in a legal space in a lot valid for their permit. Appellant’s assertion that they did not see the sign or line markings. It is the driver’s responsibility to note and comply with all posted signage, notices and line markings.
- Lack of knowledge of regulations
It is the driver’s responsibility to read and familiarize themselves with the Parking Guidelines. Your opinion that the parking rules are unfair is not a legitimate basis for appeal.
- You did not receive a violation on your vehicle
As long as there is a record of the violation being written, it is considered valid. In some cases, the nature of the violation may require that the violation is mailed to the registrant.
- Vehicle malfunction
Drivers who experience a vehicle malfunction and cannot move their vehicle must report their vehicle as disabled to the Security Office at 626-914-8611 so accommodations can be made.
- Didn’t see and/or understand the sign
Drivers are required to look for signs when parking. This may mean checking an entire lot from corner to corner. Drivers are also required to abide by the directions on the signs. A person indicating that they did not see a sign preventing parking is not an acceptable excuse.
- Only part of my car was illegally parked
A violation is not based on a certain percentage of the vehicle being illegally parked. If part of the vehicle extends into a restricted area, the violation is the same as if the entire vehicle encroached.
- Nobody else got a ticket
Sometimes this excuse is raised as discriminatory enforcement. The officer may have had to leave the area before checking all the vehicles; however, a parking citation stands on its own.
- A college official saw me park and didn’t say anything – or said it was okay for a few minutes
Generally speaking, employees have no authority to give permission to break the law or college policy. Whenever possible, an officer will caution about illegal parking, but silence by an official does not waive parking restrictions.
- This violation has not been enforced in the past
This normally is not the case, however, inadequate staffing or other priorities may give rise to violations not being enforced continually; but nowhere does apparent failure to enforce parking laws constitute a valid excuse for illegal parking.
- I’ve done it for years – everybody does it
This is never a valid excuse for illegally parking. Nobody should be rewarded for getting away with prior violations.
|