Parking on campus is somewhat of an adventure – dodging inattentive pedestrians, finding an open spot and trying to avoid tickets.

Even Douglas Houghton, the ISU Department of Public Safety’s Program Manager, sees it in that light.

“I used to say it’s kind of a game,” Houghton said. “[You] go in and out and see if you can get away with it.”

The rules of the game have changed in the last two years, however. Between higher fines and CyRide becoming free for students, the parking division is actually writing fewer tickets than ever this year.

Houghton said there were typically 100,000 tickets written in a given year, but only 90,000 were written last year, and current projections show that about 80,000 will be written this year. He attributed this largely to the commuter lot shuttle system.

“I think students are more comfortable riding the bus,” Houghton said. “If it’s free, they’re more likely to use it.”

Despite the lower number of tickets, enforcement has been stepped up. Houghton said anyone parking illegally on Central Campus, even for a few minutes, can expect to get a ticket.

However, the parking division is not completely insensitive to students’ concerns, either. Houghton said students with a legitimate reason to violate the parking rules briefly would generally be allowed to, provided they contact the parking division first.

Students may also appeal tickets they feel are unjust in Room 29 of the Armory.

“The vast majority of people who appeal did violate the rules in some way,” Houghton said. “The question is the rationale for doing it.”

Houghton said about 50 percent of appeals are successful, usually justified by reasons such as illness or the need to drop something off at a campus building.

There is also a special exception for visitors to campus – they are allowed three tickets excused upon appeal. Some students try to take advantage of this system.

“Sometimes, I try to submit my tickets like I’m a visitor,” said Dathan Brown, senior in journalism and mass communication. “I haven’t gotten it to work yet.”

Houghton said the parking division investigates visitors’ appeals, and that if a car is found to be connected to a student, the student is issued the ticket.

Students may also purchase a staff parking permit if there are any available and they can demonstrate a legitimate need for one. Brandon Janssen, junior in chemistry, purchased a permit for Lot 29, behind the Molecular Biology Building, while working on campus last summer.

“It was really nice being able to park close to work,” Janssen said. “It was definitely worth the money.”

The parking division makes about $1 million each year on tickets, which Houghton said was used to pay for services such as the commuter shuttle bus and road maintenance. The parking division does not receive any funding from tuition.

Houghton had a few pieces of advice for students seeking legitimate parking on campus. He said that, while almost always full, the Armory lot sees rotation right when classes let out, offering a chance to snag a space.

His highest recommendation was simpler.

“Unless you really need to get in quick, just park in the commuter lots at Iowa State Center.”

The parking division can be contacted at 515-294-3388.