Although Campus Parking Services brought in $865,244 last year from parking ticket violations, revenue is down $76,326 for 2004.

In December 2002, revenue was at $380,146. So far this year, revenue is at $303,820.

Ron Pearson, coordinator of parking and traffic, said a major reason for the figure being down is that University Police have been writing fewer tickets for parking in no-parking zones near residence halls.

The decrease comes just a year after revenue increased $218,681 from 2002 to 2003.

Pearson also said NIU police began to be stationed at residence halls in 2003. As a result, they heavily ticketed vehicles parked in fire and no-parking zones, which also accounts for the revenue increase.

The money taken in by Parking Services is used for employee salaries, rent, heating and other expenses for the parking services building.

The department also contributes to major university projects such as the newly renovated visitor parking lot.

In fall 2003, the fines for not having NIU registration or for parking in the wrong permit lot were raised, Pearson said. Fines used to be $10 if paid within 48 hours, and $20 after that.

Now if a student gets a violation for having no NIU registration or for parking in the wrong permit lot, they have 48 hours to pay a $20 fine. After that, the fine is doubled to $40.

The fine for parking in a reserved spot also was raised from $25 to $40.

“I think there should be more parking available to students, considering we have to wait for a half hour sometimes for a spot to open up,” senior communication major Nick LaPorta said. “However, I do think that the $20 fine within the first 48 hours is fair for college students.”

Parking Services employs four full-time parking enforcers each year that are supervised by the NIU police department. They are paid an hourly wage and do not work on commission, Pearson said.

“If anyone thinks that a parking ticket is not fair, there is an appeal process they can go through at Parking Services,” parking enforcer Pat McKinley said.

Pearson said Parking Services will extend its hours from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday until Jan. 23 to better accommodate those looking to purchase parking permits.