Parking pass forgery on the rise among sophomores

If the parking decal on your car is fake, now might be the time to take it off, because the police and Dean of Students office are coming for you.

Though there have always been several cases of fraudulent decals each year, this year more students are being caught and disciplined for their action, according to Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) Captain Mark Keith.

The most prevalent cases of falsification are upperclassmen that purchase decals for sophomores, violating university rules.

Parking administrator Brett Sylvia said the problem is not a new one, but it is now being more strictly enforced. "Those people who have been caught have faced severe disciplinary action from the dean's office" Sylvia said.

The penalties for a false decal carry an immediate sentence of Probation II, a fine of $50 and suspension of the parking pass. When TUPD discovers a false decal the officer writes an incident report and then refers the issue to the Dean of Student's Office.

Due to the increased number of incidents, the university is considering making such an offense more visible on the published list of violations, according to Judicial Affairs Director Veronica Carter.

Currently, the Department of Public Safety's parking regulations do not mention Probation II specifically, only disciplinary action. Additional penalties include a fine and revocation of the violator's parking privileges for the present and upcoming semester.

According to the Judicial Process Handbook, students on Probation II are no longer considered in good standing with the University. They may not study abroad, hold office in a student organization, join a fraternity or sorority, or participate in any sports program. The offense remains on the student's record for four years, even after graduation.

While TUPD may be more strictly enforcing these rules, both Keith and Sylvia were careful to point out that degrees of punishment have not changed. "The disciplinary actions haven't been increased. The penalties haven't changed," Keith said.

Keith is not certain of the reason for increased violations, but the forgeries potentially relate to the tight parking situation for sophomores, who are now forbidden from parking uphill.

Keith also said that, "maybe it is through the diligent efforts of staff who are noticing altered or phony decals."

Because students feel that uphill lots, such as the one behind Miller Hall, are often partially empty, some sophomores question the validity of the strict policy.

"I think everyone should have the same privileges. There is ample parking for sophomores in junior and senior areas, and I see no reason why privileges should be reduced," said sophomore Trevor Alcott, who has a Cousens-only decal.

Though the regulations may frustrate some students, Sylvia says upperclassmen appreciate the increased available space over last year's parking crunch.

Sophomores took up many of the available spaces in uphill lots last year, forcing upperclassmen to park elsewhere. "After what we experienced last year and with the number of sophomore decals sold this year, opening the parking uphill just is not an option," Keith said.

When asked if there were any plans to prevent future forgery of parking decals, both Keith and Sylvia were hesitant to release any information. "We're looking into options, maybe, that would help combat this practice in the future," Keith said.