Campus Parking and Security are working on a few solutions to avoid reoccurring issues students have been facing.
Though no break-ins have happened so far this semester, there have been 17 jump starts and 4 lock outs, compared to the 30 jump starts and 14 lockouts that occurred last January.
Patrick Murray, a sergeant with the campus’ student parking and security department, said he understands that students don’t want to be late to class on the first few weeks of the semester, so leaving your lights on and trivial things are forgivable, but he said for students to remember that it’s okay to lose your keys, not your common sense.
“We try to talk to them about things like, ‘Oh I left my keys inside my purse’, and their purse will be sitting in the driver’s seat in plain sight. Be happy your keys and purse are still there,” said Murray.
Murray said most thefts that occur on campus are crimes of opportunity.
Campus Parking contracted with Diamond, which means they now provide the “We Care” program that offers these services for free when you have a permit: retrieve keys locked in a car, inflate a flat or install a spare, jump start a dead battery, and supply enough gas to reach the nearest 24-hour gas station.
Though NIC previously offered a few of these free services, since contracting with Diamond, they are able to offer more.
Murray said that security has recently seen a spike in students having parking troubles in the snow.
“On Monday, the first day of the new semester, the snow came down at around 3 a.m. Parking lines were covered. New students didn’t always realize they were parking on them, blocking other students. If we felt like it was the fault of the snow, we would void giving out tickets,” said Murray.
Murray said after the snow melted, some of the students still tried to say they didn’t realize they were parking on the yellow lines.
“Actually, when you weren’t looking we just went on a painted some yellow lines,” Murray joked, “It was like a sea of yellow.”
Campus Parking is currently trying to implement an online permit registration, to make aquiring a parking permit less of a hassle.
“It’s a lot bigger project than it originally seemed”, said Garry Stark, assistant director of facilities operations. “We are having weekly meetings to find the best economical way to go, though it should be ready for the coming fall semester.”
Stark also said that campus parking may have a license recognition system by next year, instead of using permits. He suggests that it could be easier to catch criminals and make NIC a safer campus.
These new changes also mean that campus security is no longer full time. According to campus security, Diamond brings security and safety and they’re not a professional group paid by the ticket. They just patrol and make sure people are parked properly.
If you need to contact Diamond, call 208-769-3310. They have a 30 minute response and are available 24 hours, 7 days a week, including holidays. If you need to call Campus Parking for a permit or if you have any questions, call 208-769-5902.
