Spring Break
Police set plan for parking problems
University, city officials work together to inform students of parking laws
Sam Kramer
Issue date: 9/9/04 Section: Campus News
Parking has been an intense battle between UW--Eau Claire students and their neighbors. Confusion over parking ordinances has led to students parking illegally, provoking a great deal of frustration among area residents. All of this has led to a great deal of tension in the Third Ward Neighborhood over the past few years.
Officer Jack Corey and the E.C.P.D. have made preventing such tensions a major priority.
"Last year the parking situation turned into quite a battle between students and neighbors," Corey said. "We'd like to avoid that this year."
Corey, the Communications Relations Director for the Police Department, is leading the effort to help the university educate students about parking ordinances. Corey has spoken with university officials and sent them information to put on their website. In addition, Student Senate is helping with the effort.
"We are working with the university to educate students," said Student Senate President Chad Wade.
Community leaders are appreciative of the university's efforts to help students avoid parking troubles.
"The university and student organizations like Student Senate and (local media) have made gallant efforts to educate students," said City Councilor Toby Biegel.
The effort is due in large part to fears the Police Department has about parking issues this school year, Corey said.
He said the Police Department believe residents will be calling a lot this year with complaints about student parking violations following the struggles of last year. This puts the department in a position where they have to write many tickets.
"We're going to be aggressive with (enforcement)," Corey said.
Wade said he approves of the Police Department's aggressive enforcement. He says he believes that by being consistent, the police will help students understand what they can and can't do.
Parking too close to driveways and violating time restrictions are two of the major problems, Corey said.
Corey says that planning ahead will help students avoid the time crunches that often lead to illegal parking.
"We don't want this to be an us versus them thing where nobody wins," he said. "It becomes a litany of complaints from residents including parties, loitering and littering, and there are better ways to deal with these than involving the police."
Officer Jack Corey and the E.C.P.D. have made preventing such tensions a major priority.
"Last year the parking situation turned into quite a battle between students and neighbors," Corey said. "We'd like to avoid that this year."
Corey, the Communications Relations Director for the Police Department, is leading the effort to help the university educate students about parking ordinances. Corey has spoken with university officials and sent them information to put on their website. In addition, Student Senate is helping with the effort.
"We are working with the university to educate students," said Student Senate President Chad Wade.
Community leaders are appreciative of the university's efforts to help students avoid parking troubles.
"The university and student organizations like Student Senate and (local media) have made gallant efforts to educate students," said City Councilor Toby Biegel.
The effort is due in large part to fears the Police Department has about parking issues this school year, Corey said.
He said the Police Department believe residents will be calling a lot this year with complaints about student parking violations following the struggles of last year. This puts the department in a position where they have to write many tickets.
"We're going to be aggressive with (enforcement)," Corey said.
Wade said he approves of the Police Department's aggressive enforcement. He says he believes that by being consistent, the police will help students understand what they can and can't do.
Parking too close to driveways and violating time restrictions are two of the major problems, Corey said.
Corey says that planning ahead will help students avoid the time crunches that often lead to illegal parking.
"We don't want this to be an us versus them thing where nobody wins," he said. "It becomes a litany of complaints from residents including parties, loitering and littering, and there are better ways to deal with these than involving the police."