Opinion

Staff Editorial: Ignoring parking laws can lead to fines

Linn Hall accessible parking spots on Sept. 16, 2024, after a car was towed by the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Photo by Josh Wherry.

Parking lot safety is a serious concern. So far in 2024, Kirkwood Community College’s Public Safety reported they have responded to 31 accidents on the main campus, with the vast majority taking place in our parking lots. This statistic does not include the number of accidents that go unreported.  

How many times have you seen someone speed in the parking lots, not looking where they’re going? Or, speeding past walking pedestrians instead of waiting, not yielding to other cars, parking crooked or out of the lines? People are not taking safety in our parking lots seriously, regardless of the major consequences that can come from just one mistake.  

On Sept. 16, the accessible parking spaces in the Linn Hall parking lot were completely full. At one point during the day, three of the six cars parked in those spots did not have visible registrations. Cedar Rapids police responded by towing those cars.  

When a car is towed by Cedar Rapids police, the person must call the police department to find out where their car is, retrieve the car and pay a fee. 

In Cedar Rapids, the fine for parking in an accessible spot without a permit is $200. This does not include towing and storage fees you must also pay.  

Collisions in the parking lot also come with their fair share of fees. If you cause an accident, you must pay for the damage you caused. 

If you hit a parked car in the Kirkwood parking lot, it’s important to follow proper protocol. In the state of Iowa, you can be charged with a hit-and-run misdemeanor for hitting a car and fleeing the scene without leaving behind insurance information or contact information, even if you’re in a parking lot. 

And, with the number of cameras on campus, it’s better to follow protocol versus racking up additional fines for a hit-and-run.  

Proper safety measures at Kirkwood are not being adhered to by students as much as they should be. People who do not have accessible parking permits should not park in accessible parking spots. 

And, collisions in our parking lots—or anywhere on campus, for that matter—should be reported to Kirkwood security. 

Not following safety protocol on campus can lead to fines that you may not be able to afford, so take the extra time out of your day to park properly and drive safely on campus. 

Image courtesy of Josh Wherry | Kirkwood Communiqué