I would like to introduce myself as your new Student Motor Vehicle Court Chairperson. In addition to my service as a full member of the Judicial Board, I also preside as the judicial head over parking ticket appeals.

I spent the end of my summer vacation reviewing and making decisions regarding the parking tickets appealed by members of the RPI community. Approximately 500 tickets were reviewed during the first two weeks following my return from a summer fellowship at Cornell.

I replaced the former chairperson who had graduated in May and have completely caught up with all tickets issued. I will recruit the alternate J-Board members to help me with making decisions on parking tickets issued and to make sure that fair and balanced judgement calls are made. We at the parking office, SMVC, and J-Board hope to run the system as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

However, I wish to address a few issues that may cross your minds and may help you understand the parking situation. I, as a student, know that parking here at RPI is not the greatest. I have commuted from Albany every day since sophomore year and know that I need to get to campus early in order to obtain a legitimate parking space. People complain about the lack of parking spaces reserved and the apparently outrageous permit and parking ticket prices that RPI charges.

First, RPI is working to alleviate the parking congestion and needs your cooperation. If you live close to campus (such as 15th Street, etc ... ) then think about carpooling, biking, or walking rather than driving to campus. Maintenance of the parking areas here at RPI costs a good deal of money, and in order to keep within the budget, the Institute is forced to sell more permits than spaces in order to make the money necessary to pay for it. In the past, there has been a constant flow of outgoing and incoming cars throughout the day to allow for people to obtain a parking space, although it may have taken a little while.

Second, the prices for permits and fines for illegal parking are very justifiable and help enforce order and legitimate parking by the students. As I went through the appealed tickets, many appeals were from students who had not registered their car with the parking office and were stealing parking spaces from those who did. To the people who continue in this behavior: you are essentially screwing a lot of people over, and will not get you any sympathy from the SMVC.

Also, the prices at RPI are a lot better than at schools like Cornell or Boston University. This summer at Cornell I had to pay $80 for a 12-week permit and at B.U. it’s over $300 per semester, which is quite a bit more than the $63-$80 per year at RPI.

Third, I would like to ask the community to stop parking illegally in handicapped spaces and in fire lanes without flashers for over 10 minutes. I saw a number of those tickets, especially in the JEC circle area where people are supposed to be standing with their cars! If there’s a fire in one of the buildings (God forbid), and your car is blocking the fire truck’s way, you are, in essence, responsible for putting those innocent lives at risk.

Furthermore, parking in a handicap spot when you youself are not handicapped is just pathetic! You have the benefit of a good health—how will an extra three-to-five minute walk hurt you?

Fourth, I will be much nicer to you as long you treat me and my colleagues with some respect. I know parking can be difficult and can make for a bad start to the day. Word of advice: If you do get a ticket do not go harass the Parking Office people. Instead, ask for an appeal form and be considerate and polite in your tone of writing. I do not want to read anything that is meant to annoy or threaten me.

I do, however, have sympathy and will understand people’s complaints—sincerity and personality go a long way. (Watch Pulp Fiction and Samuel L. Jackson will say it best.) Furthermore, if you have a long record—let’s say around 15 or more tickets in a course of a year—I cannot help you out. I sometimes have to look at your parking records and take them into consideration to determine the legitimacy of the appeal. Witness testimony and other forms of evidence always help, so do not forget it! Please be considerate and refrain from insulting Parking Office staff, especially on the appeal forms. That sort of behavior does not help in any way.

Finally, go to the Parking Office and get the "411" on where your permit allows you to park and all of the information regarding the parking policies of RPI! I’m saying this now loud and clear, so you can not have the excuse of saying "I did not know." You are in college now, and you should want to be treated like "educated" adults! So go get the information and be familiar with the rules. Like I said, I will be sympathetic and try to help you all out, but there are limits. As always, the Parking Review Board will meet periodically to address pressing issues and try to work out reasonable and appropriate solutions, but you, the people, need to speak up and go to your student leaders and place your demands! The Institute is nothing without the support of the people!

Thank you and take care.

Nagesh Rao

MTLE/PHIL ’02