Destruction of parking gate arms on campus is driving up the cost of already pricey parking passes at the University of Denver.
The university is spending over $300 a week merely to replace parking gate arms. These arms guard the entrance and exit to the various parking lots and garages on campus. An average of 11-12 arms are broken due to random acts of vandalism in any given week. These gates cost about $30 apiece. Multiply this number by 11 occurrences a week, 10 weeks a quarter, 3 quarters a year, and a figure of $9,900 emerges on parking gate arms alone.
This $9,900 is compensated by an increase in the maintenance budget of University Parking Services. However, Parking Services does not share the deep pockets budget of DU. It is an independently-funded sector of the university, gaining its income from parking pass fees, tickets and other citations. In order to compensate for the vandalism, the parking permit prices must be increased from year to year.
However, this kind of vandalism persists from week to week. It is not an uncommon sight to see splintered and broken gate arms sprawled on the concrete around various parking lots at DU.
However, this vandalism does not go unnoticed.
“The CCTV cameras in the lots have been effective,” said University Parking Services’ Scott Bauman.
Being caught in the act of vandalizing gate arms has its consequences.
“We have identified numerous individuals and vehicles for breaking gate arms and have issued them $100 vandalism citations,” said Bauman. “Along with the expensive citations, they are sent to Citizenship and Community Standards for further action that includes restitution and possible community service. In several cases, students have had their parking permits revoked.”
When asked whether the occasional $100 fines come close to making up for the monumental bill, Bauman replied with a frustrated no. The only way to counter this unnecessary cost is to raise parking pass prices.
Every splintered and broken parking arm destroyed is contributing to a bill large enough to buy a Daewoo.
