Public safety sent out an email in November explaining the stricter enforcements on handicapped parking. It has been a pattern that students without handicap tags park in handicapped spots for short amounts of time.
Students, staff and faculty campus-wide received the email explaining the consequences for parking in the spots. Many students have difficulty finding parking so they will just park in any spot.
However, due to a recent report from the U.S. Civil Rights Department concerning the handicapped parking at Cabrini, Public Safety is cracking down.
“Last semester we issued 49 tickets to cars that were unlawfully parked in handicapped spots,” Creig Doyle, director of Public Safety, said. “It just comes down to being lazy. When you meet someone with a temporary or permanent handicap it forces you to become more aware of what you take for granted.”
Students, however, seem to disagree. Dylan Takats, junior marketing major, said, “Public safety needs to get rid of half the handicapped parking because I am almost positive there are not nine handicapped people living in West and the apartments.”
After the recent report, Cabrini is under close watch. They have been re-painting, counting, and posting new signs to ensure everyone is aware of the handicapped parking. Public safety must make sure they are meeting requirements.
Based on general occupancy of a building, there must be a certain number of parking spots. “We found out we were way over compliance in handicapped spots,” Creig Doyle said. With the extra spots for handicapped students, staff, and faculty Public Safety was happy to report that there was a surplus and no changes were made.
With the harsh winter months approaching, public safety is doing all they can to prepare for that by paying special attention to handicapped parking. There is a new protocol for this winter; if any officer sees any handicapped space has snow plowed into it, they must make a facilities report immediately to get it removed. “We need to be really careful in the winter because that is when it is really difficult for people with handicaps to get around,” Doyle said.
After the email was sent out, Doyle believes it really opened everyone’s eyes to the importance of parking legally. They have not had to boot any cars for parking in a handicapped spot yet.
Residents still struggle daily with finding parking, especially non-handicap students. Freshman Jessica DiProsparo said, “Public safety is eventually going to have to start assigning parking spots to people who live in certain buildings.” The constant buzz on campus about finding a spot, until then, will continue.
