Dear District 204, 

We've all had those mornings where we’ve woken up late. As a student maybe you’ve missed the bus or just you don’t feel like parking at secondary locations. But why should repeated mistakes not have substantial consequences? I attend Waubonsie Valley High School in Aurora, Illinois, and pay $150 to simply park in the main lot each morning, avoiding extra wait times. The issue with this system is that many students park in the lot unauthorized and without paying the fee. To combat this issue, the district gives out 2 warnings and then a sticker on your car stating the car will be “towed”. However, neither the school nor the district has ever followed through with those threats. Though I agree that the students shouldn't be punished off their first offense, it is unfair to charge some students $150, while others get off with an orange sticker on their car. This level of authority is not only unfair but also can be dangerous. By having an overflowing number of unauthorized cars in the lot, Waubonsie has become more prone to unsafe driving and car crashes. My solution to this issue is to create substantial consequences for students breaking the rules. Instead of giving them an orange sticker, the school could fine them. Now the fine is up to the district, but I propose $50 for your 3rd offense, and $50 continues to be added onto that until you reach $150. This will not only encourage drivers to think twice about breaking the rules, but will also help the school raise money. For an older school like Waubonsie, being able to profit from this could be very beneficial. Though this may seem like I’m proposing a simple money grab, I’m actually hoping this will show students that actions have consequences.