Ticketing in TSC fire lane begins
Cars parked in the fire lane near the Taggart Student Center will be ticketed, USU Fire Marshall Steve Bell said.
He said the short fire lane in between the TSC and the Logan LDS Institute has become a drop-off and pic-up point for many people, which means cars parked in the fire lane have become a safety hazard.
“I know that parking and having a place to drop people off is a problem,” Bell said, “but we need to keep that lane clear for emergency vehicles. There are people living in the new housing now, and if we need to get a fire engine in there, that is the quickest route.”
Cars found stopped in the fire lane, even if the engines are running and they have people in them, will be ticketed, Bell said. The lane is meant to be a pedestrian plaza and access for emergency vehicles, police, and snowplows only.
Bell said the university is working on a solution that will accommodate students, while acknowledging that the current plan isn’t a long-term solution.
“People use the bus turn-around to drop people off and that’s inappropriate. It just wasn’t designed to have others drop people off and wait,” Bell said. “We have$1.5 million budgeted to redo the parking circle. It should be done in about a year.”
When the drive has been remodeled, Bell said it will have room for two or three vehicles and a designated lane with a gate for just buses and other allowed vehicles.
“I don’t want to write tickets,” Bell said, “but warnings haven’t been effective and we need to protect students in the new housing.
“I don’t want this to turn into a situation where people say they didn’t know they couldn’t park there, but the curbs are red and the sign is up – no standing, no stopping, no parking,” Bell said. “You may get a ticket.”
Bell said the tickets will be $20 and after the fourth unpaid ticket, the car will be booted.
“Students just need to see the importance of keeping that lane clear,” Bell said.