University of Virginia Library

Ticketing

This letter is written in protest
of the arbitrary way the Security
Police are ticketing cars in the
vicinity of the hospital, particularly
at the Mental Health Clinic, 1244
Jefferson Park Avenue.

There is a 2-hour sign posted
halfway up the driveway for people
going to the hospital or the clinic
and the other spaces above this sign
are used by clinic staff and are
assigned to them.

This morning a policeman came
along and ticketed every single car
regardless of whether they were in
an assigned spot or not, regardless
of the personnel who went out to
protest this. But of course, we had
no recourse. He said the sign
pertained to all the parking spaces
in the entire circle, and gaily went
on ticketing.

Parking around the University
has been increasingly more and
more difficult as parking areas are
gradually being eliminated. Nothing
arouses the ire of the American
people, who are car oriented all the
way, to drive to where they are
going and find absolutely no place
to leave their cars. Hatred is
aroused for the police who are
caught in the middle. However,
discourtesy on their part does
nothing to help matters.

Just because Thomas Jefferson
could not foresee the necessity for
ample parking spaces or garages for
hospital employees and visitors,
does not free present authorities
from solving this problem.