This semester, the University's Department of Parking & Transportation began making use of vehicle immobilization devices - not-so affectionally referred to as "boots" by most - as a tool for collecting fines that are significantly overdue.
Boots certainly can evoke strong, negative responses from students. Fines are one thing, but the idea of having their cars out of service for any period of time can seem like a much worse punishment. But the policy the department has in place is fair, relying on boots only in more extreme cases and only as a means to collect significant outstanding debt, i.e. more than $250. Thus, a first-time violator - and generally, a second-, third- and fourth-time violator - should not be subjected to immobilization. Additionally, anyone who pays fines off regularly should be safe from the boot. The charge for removing the immobilization device is $50, in addition to any fines the individual has accumulated.
The numbers explain why the department thought booting was necessary. About $265,000 of overdue fines remain on the books, accumulated from about 1,500 license plates. Even more telling is that 40 drivers are responsible for $50,000 of that total, and two drivers owe more than $3,000 each.
Assuming the parking rules are enforced fairly by University police, the penalties are for the most part generous. A student usually will receive a warning ticket for his first violation within a 12-month period. Although the $45 ticket price for a Level II violation - the most common type that includes parking in a reserved area - is a little steep, the department is transparent in using its website to describe the kinds of citations and the fines that come with each one.
Fines are intended to be a deterrent for parking violations, not a revenue stream for the department, Director Rebecca White said. Nevertheless, if increasing collections is the goal, Parking & Transportation could consider a few other measures to encourage timely payment. For one, the charge for Level II violations could be reduced to $30 or $35, or fines could increase gradually with the number of citations received. Another option is to use administrative holds earlier in the process. Currently, students with outstanding fines are prevented from receiving their diplomas until all charges are cleared. The department could consider asking for administrative holds to be placed on the Student Information System that prevent individuals from enrolling in classes until fines are paid.
These changes may help collections, but vehicle immobilization still is a logical part of enforcement. So long as the department continues to use the boot judiciously and limitedly, students have little grounds for complaint.
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