Achi news desk-
New parking rules at Mount Royal University (MRU) have angered some students.
Over the past five years, the school’s parking prices have risen dramatically according to some students, and now new rules aim to tackle parking offences.
“Now they are making the rules stronger and stricter,” said student Minal Ahuja.
“There are a lot of people who are talking about it and are concerned.”
Vehicles are not allowed to return to the stands because the school is investing in a license plate scanner. That means anyone who has exceeded their parking time can be caught more quickly.
Anyone parked illegally will be ticketed for the first two offenses and then their vehicle will be towed.
Changes also include removing one of the cheapest car parks and turning it into an accumulation lot where vehicles will be towed if they don’t follow the new rules.
In an emailed statement on Tuesday, MRU said it was aware of the concerns.
The school said its new rules aim to reduce congestion, reward those who pay for parking and recover lost revenue due to parking offences.
He also said that revenue supports university programs and initiatives.
MRU has 4,300 parking spaces.
Comparing parking permit prices, at the University of Calgary they range from $123 to $600 per semester.
At MRU, parking permits range from $394.96 to $600 per semester.
Daily parking rates are about the same in both.
Students say with the increase in tuition, books and living costs they should have more freedom, not less.
“The university is putting more money into parking security rather than improving (the university’s) quality,” said student Yakov Aluph.
They are also disappointed that student money is being spent to punish students.
“They have to pay a lot to get their cars back. (A few years ago) it was three warnings and fines used to be $17, now they’re $40,” Aluph added.
