As the second semester of the school year starts, more problems arise with parking in the Senior lot, and officers are cracking down on students who use the lot without a permit.

Spots at Lafayette are limited, as opposed to other schools like Dunbar, which have larger lots. A lottery open only to Seniors determines who gets a permit. There is a $20 registration fee. Names were redrawn this year for a second lottery, after some students decided not to accept their passes. Those with off-campus activities are not given any preference. This rule is very unpopular with parents and students who believe that, without reserved spots, it is more difficult for vocational students to get to class on time or at all.

Officers have been giving out more citations and are monitoring parking more closely as complaints pour in. Students can expect three citations before they are towed away. Once towed away, students have to pay a fee before they can repossess their vehicle. If they can’t immediately pay, there is a storage fee. Last year the fee was $130, and it’s only expected to rise.

Many students think it’s unfair to have their car towed away. Students with permits who park illegally elsewhere, because their spot was taken, also don’t think it’s fair to be ticketed, when their spots are taken by those without permits.

Officers Bowerbank and Scott have a different perspective for students to consider. They point out that officers don’t want to tow cars, but that it is their job to enforce the rules that are already in place.

“In real life, you don’t get another break,” Bowerbank says. The goal is not to punish, but to educate students and give them a chance to learn from their mistakes. That’s an opportunity you won’t find off-campus.