by Brett Stone, Campus Editor

With all the changes in parking regulations that have taken place on and around campus at the start of a new semester, some might feel like a driver’s ed student trying to learn to parallel park.

Students and faculty at Brigham Young University – Idaho are returning to three different sets of changes for parking on and around campus.

1.     Extending parking areas requiring an “A” or “B” permit to some streets surrounding campus.

2.     “University” permits sold by the City of Rexburg are now required for parking on many city streets around campus from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3.     “Residential” permits sold by the City of Rexburg are required for parking on many city streets that are in residential areas close to campus.

Streets like West 450 S. and S. Center Street that run in front of the Taylor Chapel now require a “B” parking permit. This permit, $10 from the University Parking Office, is the same that most students buy to park in university parking lots on campus.

Further out from the center of campus, city streets that have been used for parking on for free now require a small red and white permit that hangs from the rear-view mirror of a vehicle. The university permits, issued by the City of Rexburg, cost $15 per semester or $35 per year.

Reactions to these changes have been varied.

Some students expressed suspicion.

“I just want to know why they are doing this, because it seems like they are doing it just to make a quick buck,” said Cody Pettersen, a sophomore studying business management.

Some thought that a different solution could be more effective.

“Why not just put in meters?” said Adam Blaylock a junior studying political science. “Then you would only pay for it when you need it.”

Others felt that the changes were minor in the larger scheme of things.

“Lots of times people get frustrated, but for the price of the parking permits here its definitely worth it, especially compared to U of I,” said Ben Holland, a sophomore studying sociology and a transfer student from the University of Idaho.

The Rexburg City Council, which oversaw the planning and implementing of the new law, expressed a strong hope that the regulations will be beneficial for everyone.

City Council President Christopher Mann said that the city had several reasons for making the changes. Working closely with university officials, the City Council researched other college-towns’ parking regulations such as Provo, Utah, Laramie, Wyoming, Logan, Utah and more.

“This is not a unique solution, as it has been tried in other communities with similar sized schools with an effective outcome,” said city clerk Blair D. Kay.

President Mann also responded to criticism by some that the city had ulterior motives for the new regulations.

“Something had to be done,” Mann said. “We were fearing for the safety of the students. Our goal is not to make money.”

The funds collected from the sale of permits go to the city’s general fund.

“It’s less than a drop in a bucket,” Mann said. “Our police budget is over 2.2 million.”

As of Thursday, Sept. 11, all residential and university permits were all sold out.

Included in the new regulations are regulations on how vehicles should be parked. Along many streets, drivers are now required to back in the diagonal space.

However, Scroll observed on Thursday, Sept. 10 that less than 25 percent of  the 49 vehicles parked between the Snow building and the corner of Second S. and First E. near the Kirkham, were parked correctly.

Captain Lewis of the Rexburg City Police Department said that while police will eventually issue tickets for improperly parking, “We’re trying to give them time to adjust.”

Long time residents of Rexburg have praised the new residential permits (green tags that hang from the rear-view mirror). Bernie Jensen has lived on College Avenue, which runs from in front of the Spori building to Main Street for 41 years.

“I’m all for it,” said Jensen of the new regulation. “Before it’s been a real problem.” He mentioned how difficult it was for family to visit when the street in front of his home had no place for them to park.

For more information visit www.byui.edu/DriveorWalk.