As of Monday, Sept. 14, any car parked on campus without a permit or day pass may be ticketed by the Pierce College Sheriff’s Department.
According to Sheriff’s station team leader Alfred Guerrero, more than 200 tickets have been given out since Monday. Failure to pay the ticket results in substantial penalties and a Department of Motor Vehicles hold on vehicle registration.
“Buy the parking pass and put it on your car,” Guerrero said. “That will prevent you from getting a $30 ticket. Buy the pass, it will work in your favor.”
Permits may be purchased on the Pierce website or from the Business Office. The purchase of a Restricted permit costs $20 and allows parking in Lot 4, on El Rancho Drive and in unpaved overflow lots. The ASO Preferred permit costs $27 and allows parking in all lots. Daily parking permits cost $1 for 30 minutes in the green 30 minute zone, or $3 for all-day parking in all other student parking spaces.
Stephanie Amber is a Pierce student and has been parking on campus with a permit for two years. Amber bought a permit again this semester and said doing so has kept her from ever receiving a ticket.
“It’s not worth risking getting a $30 ticket when the parking permit is $20,” Amber said. “Get the permit.”
Students such as Emily Malley however, have reported parking their cars, walking to the daily permit machines, and returning to find a citation.
“I got a ticket because I parked in a 30 minute spot,” Malley said. “I was going to buy a parking permit and then they ticketed me.”
With the exception of handicapped spaces and staff parking areas, no citations will be given to students on weekends according to Sheriff’s security officer Justin Ramos.
According to Ramos, students who do not wish to purchase a permit and are willing to accept the risks may use street parking on Victory, Winnetka or Oxnard. Parking at the Metro Orange Line station, located at the northeast corner of Winnetka Ave. and Victory Blvd., is free for anyone using the Metro. However, the lot is only for Metro passengers and is patrolled by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, which may issue citations to violators.
“I personally don’t recommend parking off-campus,” said Ramos, citing a higher rate of damage and theft from vehicles in areas not patrolled by the Pierce College Sheriff’s deputies and security officers.
No ticket payments will be received at the Sheriff’s office. Payments must be mailed to the citation service center to be processed, and all appeals must be submitted to the Pierce College sheriff’s office within 21 days of citation. Students can call the Pierce College Sheriff’s station general information line at (818) 719-6450 with any parking or other non-emergency questions.
