To Whom It May Concern.
On Monday, August 30th, I parked in the grass along-side nearly 50 other cars in the lot opposite the Business School. There was no “no parking sign”, and no barrier that I cut through or broke through. After paying a $63 “transportation access” fee and yet not getting access to transportation, I (naively) assumed the University would show some mercy and understanding, and allow me to park my car rather than drive around for 40 minutes wasting gas and fighting over lot spaces. I was wrong.
You issued me a “hazardous parking” citation for $25 dollars. While that probably doesn’t seem like much to our president who makes $345,000 a year (and has her own private space), that represents almost 3 hours of wages to the average college student. Now, if it was clear that my parking was indeed “hazardous” then I might simply pay the fine, but sir/madam, I will not go quietly on this issue and I refuse to so easily give away the hard earned fruits of my labor for such a petty charge.
I searched the university parking rules PDF for a definition of hazardous parking, in hopes that I could disqualify my situation from that classification, but found none (how convenient for you . . .), just the words “Hazardous Parking: $25. No definition, no description, no means of recourse. Just a fee. Luckily for me, I eventually did find a definition.
The 8th edition of Black’s Law Dictionary defines hazardous as an adjective meaning risky or dangerous. My parking methods and location did not put myself, my vehicle, others, others vehicles, campus property or the environment at risk, nor were they dangerous to any party. In fact, the only dangerous situation occurred when I returned to my car, and found that the campus parking authority had placed a blockade in front of the “on ramp” I used to get into the grass. Since this way was blocked, I had no choice but to drive over the sidewalk and onto the street at detriment to my shocks and the bottom of my car. This scenario would have been avoided if the campus parking authority hadn’t acted immaturely and tried to block me from safely leaving the lot. I’m having my car examined by a certified mechanic and will be seeking legal damages if he can determine that my undercarriage was damaged due to the situation that you wrongfully put me in.
Other cars parked immediately next to me were issued no such tickets (and I have pictures to prove it, just tell me where to send them), yet they committed the same “crime” that I did. Tell me, where is the justice and fairness in that? FAU claims to be equal opportunity. Why do they get the opportunity to park without harassment while I don’t?
In closing, I firmly believe that I was wrongly issued a hazardous parking citation, and that I deserve to have the charges withdrawn. Furthermore, I would ask that in the future, the campus parking authority acts with more consideration to my and others safety, and never does something as foolish as “blocking” someone into a parking lot – regardless of what “wrong” they feel we have done.
Please consider my plea. I’ll be awaiting your reply.
Brom Rector