It’s the beginning of your first year at Ashland University. You have classes to prepare for, friendships to form, and a campus of parking lots to navigate. 

But, not all parking lots are created the same at AU. As many students in past years have learned, and as many students will continue to learn this year, parking tickets are no joke. 

Look outside your window at 7 a.m. and you are bound to see a golf cart zipping around with a visored figure passing out tiny white slips to cars in violation of the parking lot rules. 

In a phone interview, Rachel Kleman, the student dispatcher and parking intern with Safety Services, explained that the most heavily ticketed areas are lots A and E beside Convo and Bixler. 

She noted that tickets can be given any time of day, the most typical times are between 7 a.m.-3 p.m. 

For students who are moving in or who have a big load to carry in, it can be tempting to park in a parking lot closer to their dorm. 

Kleman explained that the grace period for parking outside of a dorm is usually about 20 minutes and that students should always use their flashers to indicate they intend to move their car. 

The university offers some leniency after 5 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekend days for the lots by Dauch and CFA. 

Kleman noted that this privilege was mostly aimed at helping commuter students. The university usually also tries to be lenient on the first week of school for those who don’t quite have their head around where they can and cannot park, offering incorrectly parked cars friendly warnings. 

Once the grace period is over, however, each ticket for a registered car is going to cost $25, according to Kleman. 

Student cars that are caught without a pass parking on campus property are subject to  a $50 fine. 

If for some reason you find yourself with a ticket, you can go online to AU’s website to appeal the ticket. Depending on the issue, and usually for a first time offender, tickets might be excused. 

Kleman warned that upon receiving a second ticket, sometimes the first and second offense are both charged.

No, the assigned parking lots are not always the most convenient, but considering that Director of Safety Services, Dave McLaughlin estimates Safety gave out over 1,000 tickets last year and considering that students already pay $80 to park on campus, save yourself the hassle and the extra money and stick to your assigned lots or beware of the visored fury.