Parking Tickets at Tufts

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

It's been debated on these pages before about the enforceability of parking tickets at Tufts. Here's something somewhat official from the Tufts Daily and TUPD:

There are limits to the authority of TUPD officers, especially in the case of parking violations and fines. According to [TUPD Sgt. Robert] McCarthy, there are only specific areas around the Tufts campus where TUPD can administer tickets. Additionally, if the ticketed car does not belong to a Tufts student, TUPD has no means of collecting the amount fined on the ticket. However, if a non−Tufts car owner receives three tickets from TUPD, his or her car can be towed.

Here's a link to the full article which talks about TUPD's police powers as well as the overlap of jurisdiction with Somerville & Medford PDs: http://www.tuftsdaily.com/features/jurisdictions-of-tupd-local-law-enforcement-overlap-around-campus-1.2666214#.Trf007KwUsB

Comments

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

It's been debated? I thought it was well settled that you don't have to pay private university tickets.

Anyone know what happens at public colleges? I have a feeling you would have to pay a ticket at UMass Amherst, since their police are state police, but I'm not sure.

"911 calls that come from campus go to the state dispatcher, then to the city police department — either Medford or Somerville — before finally being forwarded to TUPD."

911 calls only go to the state dispatcher if they come from a cell phone.

If they come from a landline, they go directly to the local police.

[josephineave.livejournal.com]

Well, I've seen a lot of conjecture in the past, but I've never seen a university *admit* they can't collect on a ticket. And that power of towing can mitigate your ability to not pay without consequence.

Regards, we now can state what Tufts policy is.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

They'll tow you if you have 3 unpaid tickets, *and* they find your car on Tufts property.

But most non-university private parking lots will tow you the first time, without giving you 3 tickets first.

[withinmywill.livejournal.com]

It's not even enforceable if you're a Tufts student. Many people I know have gotten up to three tickets, and don't bother paying them. This can occur if a person has not registered their car with Tufts (i.e. bought a Tufts parking pass). Therefore, because your car is not on TUPD's record, they can't enforce the fine.

Also, if you pay the first ticket, then you would have to pay any subsequent tickets, presumably, because then TUPD has your information (at least if you are a Tufts student, where your diploma can be withheld for outstanding fines).

Lastly, it is true that they will tow your car after 3 parking violations.