Cal Poly’s current parking enforcement structure and permit pricing create significant financial and logistical barriers for students seeking to participate fully in campus life. Strict time-limit enforcement and costly quarterly parking permits often discourage students from attending academic events, career workshops, club activities, and evening study sessions.

While we recognize the necessity of maintaining organized and regulated parking operations, the current system disproportionately impacts students who already pay substantial tuition and fees to access university resources.

We respectfully call for thoughtful reform of Parking & Transportation policies, including:

• Implementation of reasonable grace periods before citations are issued
• Introduction of flexible and lower-cost permit options (evening-only, part-time commuter, or short-term permits)
• A first-time citation warning system
• Increased transparency regarding citation revenue and allocation
• Inclusion of student representation in parking policy decision-making

Our goal is not to eliminate parking enforcement, but to ensure it aligns with Cal Poly’s mission of fostering student success, engagement, and accessibility.

By reforming current policies, Cal Poly can maintain effective parking operations while supporting students’ ability to fully participate in campus life.