Cavalcade: Leave My Damn Car Alone

Earlier this month, I was on the uptown campus of my alma mater – the University at Albany – meeting with two friends of mine who still attend the university. Now, this was during what is known as “intersession” – that time between the end of finals in mid December and the return of students on campus in mid January, so the campus was fairly dead.

It was snowing and I decided to park on Dutch lot – I figured I would do this to save the $5 from not parking in one of the newer Visitor’s lots, since I was only going to be on campus briefly.

After meeting with my two friends, I offered to drive one of them back to Empire Commons. We walk back to Dutch lot and find that the car’s gone. Instead of panicking, I knew the culprit immediately.

Parking and Mass Transit Services.

I called their office and asked whether my vehicle had been, in fact, towed by their department. The woman over the phone, in a snide manner, confirmed. I then proceeded to walk over to their trailer of an office. When I entered, I was greeted in a lovely manner by one of their associates (note the deep sarcasm). Their story was that during my time as Director of Programming for the Student Association (in which we brought President Clinton, Barbara Walters, and others to campus), that my account had been tacked on tickets for vehicles registered in the name of the department, not the Student Association.

When pleading with them to instead charge these tickets to Student Association, the woman went on the offense, saying “Well, I don’t know you from anyone.” Not the kindest words, nor even words to be uttered to anyone who went to this campus – considering we pay your salary.

$400 later, I got my car out of Dott’s Garage (who were very nice). The reason why I’m telling you this story is not to simply rant (which I wanted to anyway), but to plead with Albany County and other municipalities to strengthen the anti-towing laws currently in effect. According to the Times Union, a number of landlords and towing companies want to repeal the five-year old “predatory towing” law.

It all comes down to the money. UAlbany’s Parking and Mass Transit Services, in an e-mail sent to both staff and students, said they would start booting cars (yes, now you can get a boot while you educate yourself or go to work) after $100 in tickets incurred. This, of course, from a department that outpaces every other university center or college in the SUNY system in revenue collected.

I spoke to another friend of mine about parking. She once incurred $500 worth of tickets, therefore making education a second priority to of course, paying tickets. She pleaded, cried, and begged for them to negotiate. No answer.

She called her father, who then called their office. He called her back, saying he got them down to $150. So, pretty much, no regard for the student or staff member, but if “Mommy or Daddy” calls, then they bend over backwards. I see.

The problem is what gives an institution or a private company the right to impose this behavior on your own private property. I asked, after the 30 or so minutes debating with one woman and finally asked a reasonable associate at Parking and Mass Transit about their appeal board. She told me, “Well, I can’t tell you who is on the board.”

What?

When did we, I don’t know, completely just not care about open meetings? When I was at Hudson Valley, I served on the parking appeals board – you knew the members, they consisted of students, faculty, and staff members, and the decisions were explicitly stated – not some e-mail that says “your appeal has been denied.” Did you know that they also place a hold after 14 days, regardless of whether or not you have appealed or knew you had a ticket? Again, where is the accountability here.

I normally don’t ask folks to get behind anything, but this is a serious ethical issue that has long range ramifications on the way our institutions and governments earn revenue. If you could, please sign the petition - I appreciate it.

Really, sorry for the rant, but I’m mad and I’m not going to take it anymore.

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