The Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation is using new devices to take pictures of cars receiving tickets.
The office received new handheld devices and updated software that allows patrollers to take pictures of cars ticketed. The new software also has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities and can upload tickets
immediately.
Gary Graham, director of the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation, said the new equipment was necessary because the previous equipment was 14 years old and the department could no longer find parts or make repairs to the system or handhelds.
“We were concerned if the system crashed or handhelds were in need of repair, we wouldn’t be able to do the enforcement part of the job,” Graham said.
Graham said the upgrade cost $90,000 to $100,000, and each handheld cost around $3,500.
The upgrade costs were the same price as the system purchased in 1997, Graham said.
Mindy Le, physical therapy junior, said the new equipment was not necessary right now.
“This is definitely not where the money should’ve gone right now,” Le said. “It could have gone to education. It’s just parking.”
Graham said the server is still being updated, and some of the new updates aren’t in use yet.
“So far, it’s been a smooth transition,” Graham said.
Graham said the picture capability will help with ticket appeals. The pictures will clarify the car’s license plate, where the car was parked and other problems the office handles.
“The new system is good because I can see a lot of people getting away with appeals by saying it’s not their car,” said Brian Mackel, biology freshman.
The office receives between 2,100 and 2,200 appeals per year, and around 75 percent of those are granted, Graham said.
Graham said many of the appeals are treated as warnings for first-time violations.
“It will make it harder to get out of tickets, but it’s the rules, and you have to follow them,” Le said.
Although some students believe fewer appeals will be granted, Graham said he is not sure if the percentage will be reduced by the new system.
“I don’t know if it will be much different,” Graham said. “It remains to be seen.”
Graham said the new equipment also has the capability to upload the tickets to the server immediately, instead of the current delayed process.
Steven Morgan, history junior, said the faster uploading is the best feature the new system offers.
“I didn’t know I had gotten a ticket until the end of the month,” Morgan said.