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Parking Appeals Now Available Online So you've gotten a parking ticket on campus--your first one ever! And you just don't think it's deserved in this case. Perhaps a plea to the university's Parking and Traffic Appeals Committee is in order. Appeals once had to be made in writing or in person at the University Police office within seven days of the date the ticket was issued. But beginning just last semester, a new option came online...literally. It is now possible to appeal parking tickets electronically via the Internet! A few key strokes, and the appeal is on its way to a database maintained in University Police. Of course, appellants still must file their appeals within the seven-day deadline. "With online appeals, there is no question about whether or not the appeal has been submitted within the time allowed," says Bill Hamilton, UTSA Parking and Transportation manager. "The time and the date are stamped right on the form, protecting the appellant." "Consequently, the online option is a great way for students and others who may be short on time to get the appeal in at the last minute," Hamilton said, adding that some 50 percent of appeals now are being submitted electronically. On average, six to 10 online appeals are received daily by University Police. Donna Ware, administrative assistant in the parking office, prints the documents and distributes them to the 12-member Parking and Traffic Appeals Committee, which meets monthly or more frequently, if necessary. Ware must also review the excuses given by appellants. "The most common excuses given are 'I just ran in for a moment to see my professor' or 'I got ill and took the first parking spot'," according to Ware. "One time, a student got way too descriptive about just how ill they got, giving way too much information," she recalled. "That one was the most unbelievable one yet. If that had really happened, they wouldn't want to tell anyone." "Online ticket appeals is a fine example of a new UTSA program designed to make life here a little easier," said Ware. "Its quick and easy, but please come up with something original!" To access UTSA's online parking appeals service, go to their Web site and click on the "Parking" button. Under the "UTSA Parking Office" banner, click "Online Citation Appeal Form." For more information, call 458-4246. Send
your comments and items to: UTSAToday@utsa.edu.
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