One Student Government Association senator plans to propose an act that would allow students who receive a parking citation for not having a hangtag to be given a one-week grace period to acquire necessary tags and decals to park in a University of Memphis lot.
Joshua Jackson, senator for the graduate school, sponsored the act to amend a section of the SGA Constitution that will allow students a one-week reprieve by the Student Government Court to obtain necessary documentation from Parking Services.
"It's a big bill to a simple solution, to a problem that has been recurring," said co-sponsor Matt Hotz. "It will [be] for the betterment of everyone."
Jackson, former SGA chief justice, said this one-week grace period is needed because when he was in office, appeals came mostly from freshmen who did not receive proper hangtags and decals for their cars or were misinformed about parking practices on campus.
"I didn't want them to come to the University and the first thing they experience is a ticket," Jackson said. "I didn't want a ticket issue to cloud their experience at the U of M."
Because tonight's regular bi-weekly senate meeting conflicts with the men's basketball game, the meeting was moved up and took place Wednesday night. Because of the short notice of the schedule change, Jackson's bill wasn't discussed, but is expected to be up for vote at the next meeting on the first day back from winter break, Jan. 17.
"After speaking with many of y'all, I know many of y'all want to go to the game tomorrow, and we had to look at changing [the meeting date,] so this is the best time, but unfortunately we knew that we most likely wouldn't meet quorum tonight," SGA President Russell Born said to the senate Wednesday night.
The grace period mentioned in the act will allow students to appeal to the student court. Depending on the outcome of the traffic citation appeal, students may not have to pay the fine.
"It would still appear on your record, but you wouldn't have to pay for it," Jackson said.
Associate Chief Justice Andrew Ray said he isn't opposed to a grace period, but Parking Services should continue to issue citations not related to displaying or possessing a valid permit, such as improper parking and handicapped parking zone violations.
"I believe the grace period could serve as a time in which students can remedy any mistakes they or Parking Services made that kept them from receiving their permit," Ray said.
Jackson said the grace period is something Born and Parking Services Director Angela Floyd have a verbal agreement about.
"I was strengthening this agreement by making it law," he said. "I thought this could strengthen the relationship between Parking Services and the judicial branch [of SGA.]"
Jackson said there is a possibility that the student court will strike down the act because by changing the constitution, the SGA is "telling the court what to do."
"We assign laws, and the court can agree or strike them down, but I think this is something the court should be on board with," he said.
Chief Justice Daniel Albright said he has already instituted a policy to give students the first week of school to get the necessary documents needed to park.
"We're already doing what that is saying, so I'm not sure if there needs to be a constitutional amendment," he said. "We don't want to be restricted to a constitutional amendment."
Ray said if the SGA Senate does pass a constitutional amendment, the student court must abide by it.
"The student court ensures that all University rules and regulations are properly followed and enforced, so I'm not worried about the proposed amendment making any choices for the court since the court's job is only to enforce rules and regulations in effect, which includes the SGA Constitution," he said.
Jackson also sponsored a bill to purchase the chief justices of the student court nine black "choir/graduation robes" for weekly traffic meetings.
"Essentially, they have earned the position they are in and I think they should look the part," Jackson said.
Jackson said he didn't know who was fronting the cost of the robes, but the bill states, "The cost to the Student Government Association per robe will be approximately $90 per robe, plus shipping tax."
"I know it is a lot of money, but it is something they need and haven't had for 10 years," Jackson said. "The current ones are in total disarray."
Albright said he's heard concerns among senators about the costs of the robes, but the robes would be a good investment because they will last for a long time.
"It's just a good thing to have for the court," he said. "It helps us look official. Every other university has them, so it's just a good thing."
Have you ever gotten a parking ticket on campus?
"I've gotten plenty of them, like one per semester. I literally went into a building for two seconds and came back to a ticket. I was pissed!"
--Dusty Jolliff, Photography senior
"No. Honestly I feel like I've dodged a bullet. I'm sure I've deserved some because I can't park."
--Rachel Matousek, Elementary education freshman
"I've gotten well over 15 to 20. It makes me very mad because if you don't or can't pay your ticket, you can't register for class."
-- Christian Moskovitz,Sports management senior
"No. Pay $90 for a garage pass and you won't have to worry about tickets."
--Chris King,Political science senior
"No. I've received zero tickets because I ride my bike. I care about the environment."
--Barrett Schwarz,Philosophy graduate student
