2008 Woodie Awards
Sheriff Cracks Down on Forgery
Theresa Wray, Special to the Star
Issue date: 3/29/06 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
The Valley College Sheriff's Station has issued 1,800 tickets this semester to students who have either forged parking permits or had no permits at all displayed in their vehicles.
The business office typically has 10,000 parking permits available each semester. This semester, only 8,500 stickers have been sold. "We have plenty of parking permits left but some students don't want to purchase them," said Mary Ann Miller of the business office. "They're forging them instead."
This is not a new violation. Officers confiscated at least one forged parking pass per week last semester. The sheriff's office is working with other departments to create new ways of catching these violations. "We're on top of it," said Deputy Sheriff Tom Lynch. "Tickets are routinely issued for forged permits, no permits displayed and for parking in illegal spaces."
All forgery cases are criminally prosecuted through the court system. "The student ends up with a criminal record and could be kicked out of school or suspended," said Lynch. "The violation may also appear on the student's transcripts. All this can be avoided by paying a minor fee of $20 for a valid parking pass."
The 8,500 students who have purchased their valid permits share approximately 3,000 parking spaces at various times, depending on their class schedules. "It is difficult enough to find a parking space during peak hours," said Megan Birmingham, a frustrated evening student who often circles all six parking lots looking for a spot. "We shouldn't have to compete with students who aren't willing to pay for a space."
Valley offers more parking spaces than some of the other eight campuses in the Los Angeles Community College District. At Valley, a student can choose among six different parking lots. At Pierce College, a $20 parking pass will allow students to park in only two lots located much farther away from the campus buildings. The alternative for Pierce students is to purchase a $27 preferred permit. These preferred parking spaces are located closer to the campus buildings and they fill up fast. Most evening students purchase the preferred permits to avoid walking long distances alone at night.
It's not too late to purchase a valid parking pass. The business office is open until 6:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and until 3:45 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Students may also purchase a parking permit through the automated phone system.
"It costs some students more time and energy to create a forged parking pass than to purchase a valid one," said Lynch.
The business office typically has 10,000 parking permits available each semester. This semester, only 8,500 stickers have been sold. "We have plenty of parking permits left but some students don't want to purchase them," said Mary Ann Miller of the business office. "They're forging them instead."
This is not a new violation. Officers confiscated at least one forged parking pass per week last semester. The sheriff's office is working with other departments to create new ways of catching these violations. "We're on top of it," said Deputy Sheriff Tom Lynch. "Tickets are routinely issued for forged permits, no permits displayed and for parking in illegal spaces."
All forgery cases are criminally prosecuted through the court system. "The student ends up with a criminal record and could be kicked out of school or suspended," said Lynch. "The violation may also appear on the student's transcripts. All this can be avoided by paying a minor fee of $20 for a valid parking pass."
The 8,500 students who have purchased their valid permits share approximately 3,000 parking spaces at various times, depending on their class schedules. "It is difficult enough to find a parking space during peak hours," said Megan Birmingham, a frustrated evening student who often circles all six parking lots looking for a spot. "We shouldn't have to compete with students who aren't willing to pay for a space."
Valley offers more parking spaces than some of the other eight campuses in the Los Angeles Community College District. At Valley, a student can choose among six different parking lots. At Pierce College, a $20 parking pass will allow students to park in only two lots located much farther away from the campus buildings. The alternative for Pierce students is to purchase a $27 preferred permit. These preferred parking spaces are located closer to the campus buildings and they fill up fast. Most evening students purchase the preferred permits to avoid walking long distances alone at night.
It's not too late to purchase a valid parking pass. The business office is open until 6:45 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and until 3:45 p.m. on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. Students may also purchase a parking permit through the automated phone system.
"It costs some students more time and energy to create a forged parking pass than to purchase a valid one," said Lynch.
