LSU’s Student Senate passed a bill this Wednesday urging the university to issue warnings for first-time parking violations under $100, instead of fines, for all permit-holding students.

This new warning system, which passed unanimously, would be implemented by LSU Parking and Transportation and does not forgive violations such as parking in a handicap or emergency space and having a stolen license.

The bill, authored by University Center for Freshman Year Sen. Dylan Weinrich, a political science sophomore, and College of Human Science and Education Sen. An Tra, a kinesiology freshman, seeks to promote a more understanding and student-centric approach to parking enforcement.

In a senate meeting last week, Weinrich asked the senate, “Who here likes parking tickets?”, after no one responded, Weinrich expressed his motivation behind the bill, stating, “I hope to formalize the process of getting first-time tickets appealed.”

UCFY Sen. Jaylen Pruiett, a psychology pre-med freshman, voiced his backing for the bill. “I am definitely in support of this resolution,” Pruiett said. “Parking here is already stressful enough, and a ticket is going overboard.”

Commuters and residents have long feared the consequences of parking in the wrong lot or overstaying their time in restricted zones. For many students, the financial burden of parking tickets has been a source of frustration, especially when already juggling tuition, rent and other expenses.

Mechanical engineering junior Kyle Thibodeaux recounted his experience with a parking violation on campus. “I was just parked at the PFT, going to my engineering class,” Thibodeaux said. “It was 100 bucks, I wasn’t able to pay it. I had to get someone to help out.” 

The bill serves as a recommendation to the university administration, urging action from LSU without mandating implementation.

The next Senate meeting will be on Oct. 2.