By Anderson Gould

Contributor

I parked in the parking structure and I purchased a parking pass for the day with my credit card.  I placed the ticket in the window in the driver side window as advised. However, as I closed the door and unforeseen circumstances occurred, the ticket fell off the dashboard.

I was on campus on a Wednesday, which is the only day I am on campus the longest.  I have a class at 2:30 p.m. and another at 5:30 p.m. These classes are back to back and the last class ends at roughly 8:15 p.m.

When I returned to the parking structure and I approached the vehicle I noticed there was a green envelope on the windshield. I was shocked knowing that I had paid for parking. I looked in the windshield and the parking permit was not there; it was on the floor of the car.

I immediately called campus police and explained the situation. I was told it could be resolved by stopping by the campus police office and filling out the paper work. I did and I waited to receive a letter of a waiver or warning for the ticket.  When I received the letter, I was denied and forced to pay the ticket for $65.

I was shocked because I had proof that I had paid for parking.  Secondly, the charge was on a credit card and the last for numbers from the card was on the parking permit ticket.  I could not believe I was denied knowing I had honestly paid and with proof of paying.

In the end, I paid for a day pass of parking $9 and for a ticket for not paying for parking of $65.  Accidents do happen that are out of our control. I would understand having to pay for the ticket if I did not have the proof of paying.  I thought what would have been more reasonable would have been getting off with a warning and having this incident being filed under driver/vehicle information so if it happened again there would not be excuses.