The New Price For A Ticket

While we are all busy worrying about where we were heading for spring break, a new parking bail schedule took effect on campus.

The simple mechanics of it all is this, what used to cost about $40 to pay off a simple citation for missing a valid parking permit (which has unfortunately occurred on more than one occasion) has now been bumped up to $45. The same goes for most citations or violations listed on the bail schedule, except for the occasional few that go beyond $100 limit (e.g. a stolen permit violation was priced at $250, now it's been raised to $255).

So why the raise? The answer is simple, as best illustrated by University Police Parking Field Operations Manager Alan Moore.

"The fee is in response to Senate Bill 1407, which has us raising our violation fees almost $10 more per ticket in order to comply with the states' need for revenue, which in turn pays for prisons as well as other state own facilities."

Well now you know. Keep on that permit until the end of the semester, unless you want to add another $45 to what you paid in total for the year.

List of new fees found on http://daf.csulb.edu/offices/ppfm/parking/bail-schedule.html

Are Your Cars Safe in CSULB?

On an average morning, most students charge right into their respective parking locations with only one thought in mind.

Get to class on time!

We lock our doors and head off to class, never once thinking back on the prospect that said car we drove to school in might not be there when we return. According to a recent article in the Daily 49er, such a prospect is becoming more of a reality than most students are aware of. Within a 14-day period alone, five vehicle thefts have been reported on campus, with only three of the vehicles reported missing recovered since then. Two other vehicle theft attempts were also reported by campus police, one of which was thwarted by the owner of the car herself after she managed to catch the suspects in the act.

With an unusual high rate of vehicles suddenly going missing on campus, it brings up the question of just how secure our little campus really is from crimes such as these.

"I think we're fairly safe, we just have to make sure we don't leave anything expensive out in the open where someone might see it and want to break in." said Israel Valencia, a Sophomore Computer Science major.

Well, whatever the common opinion may be on the subject, one thing remains certain...

lock up your cars before you head out to class!

More on http://www.daily49er.com/vehicles_vanish_as_thefts_rise-1.1603684

Sorry, This Spot is Taken

Let's face it, parking is no easy task in this day and age, and this can be considered especially true if you happen to be a local student attending California State University, Long Beach (or as we more lovingly know it, CSULB). Day in and day out we face the perils that our parking structures have to offer, and feel the squeeze around our wallets every semester as an added bonus. Few students are left with choices when money is concern, and it is at this point that many resort to the only off-campus parking free of charge on Los Altos.

Unfortunately, according to a recent article in the Union Weekly, this might all quickly change thanks in part to Long Beach City Councilman Patrick O'Donnell.

The idea is simple, to reduce the influx of students parking on Los Altos (and to reduce the amount of complaints received by residents of the area), Councilman O'Donnell has proposed that certain streets near CSULB become preferential parking zones. Residents of the area are being given the opportunity to voice their opinion through the mail, and CSULB is sweetening the deal by offering to meet the neighborhood half-way on the cost. No big deal, right? While residents of the Los Altos area will only need to pay about $16 per permit, we STILL have to pay $123 per semester.

Quite fair, wouldn't you agree?

Feel free to contact Pat O'Donnell at district4@longbeach.gov.

Read more in http://www.asicsulb.org/unionweekly/archives.html

CSULB Parking Wants Your Design Skills

Ever stop and look at the particular design your parking permit has? Chances are that you maybe glanced at it once, if at all, then slapped it on your car window in a fit of fury after handing over $246 of your hard earned money for it.

Well, in a combined effort with Associated Students, Inc., CSULB Parking & Transportation Services now wants your help in designing a parking permit worthy of your attention. All currently enrolled students are encouraged to participate in their Parking Permit Design Competition, in which the winner will have their artful design displayed on car windows all over campus for the next two semesters as well as a lovely cash prize (Which will probably go to funding your purchase of your next permit for next semester anyway.)

All entries must be submitted to the CSULB Parking Office, located conveniently on Lot 15, by no latter than noon on Friday, March 20, 2009.

For a complete list of rules and regulations, visit www.csulb.edu/asi