Still no plans for regular overnight parking

February 25, 2008 —

SVSU's current overnight parking policy is the main reason Parking Services has no plans to offer a pass that would allow overnight parking for commuters on a regular basis.

Parking and Student Employment Services Coordinator Joyce Payne says offering such a pass to commuter students is not feasible because it would conflict with the campus's existing overnight parking policy.

Parking Services currently offers a one-night parking pass for $2. Individuals can only purchase the pass for two consecutive nights. They are then not allowed to purchase another pass for 14 days.

Payne said this discourages guests from taking up permanent residence with people who live on campus.

She said that offering a pass that enables non-campus residents to regularly keep their vehicles on campus would negate this policy.

"If we offered such a pass, people could end up becoming permanent residents on campus," Payne said.

The winter months also pose a barrier to the availability of a new overnight parking pass.

"It's tough for the lots to get plowed if we have cars scattered all over different lots," Payne said.

Safety issues are yet another reason why Parking Services is hesitant to make any modifications to its current policies.

Campus security patrols the parking lots around the clock. Payne said this is easier to do when cars are not scattered everywhere.

She also said that she does not believe the campus' current parking policies discourage clubs or organizations from meeting late at night.

"In the event of club functions, we can accommodate them if we are alerted ahead of time," she said. "We don't ticket if we are given proper notice."