City police to ticket curb-side parking
By Becky Brandenburg
Staff Reporter

The Fort Worth Police Department will start enforcing changes to curb-side parking today on streets north and east of TCU’s main campus.

The Fort Worth Transportation and Public Works Department has distributed notices saying that some street parking will be prohibited between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The flyer and recent e-mail to faculty, staff and students cites safety concerns as the one of the reasons for parking changes in the narrow neighborhood streets extending north to Park Hill Drive, east to Stanley Drive and to the west side of Bowie Street.

“Some of the neighborhoods immediately around the campus have begun experiencing such congestion that emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances have been unable to negotiate certain streets and intersections,” Fort Worth police officer Jamie Johnson said.

Officials from the Fort Worth Police Department said street signs will be installed soon, but until then, the distributed notices will explain what streets will be impacted, the reasons for the changes and will serve as a warning for violators. Johnson said violators will be ticketed the first week of classes.

“These changes will dramatically affect the student population at TCU who choose to park illegally on the city streets,” Johnson said.

Vehicles in restricted areas will be ticketed and/or towed at the owner’s expense, Johnson said.

Ricki West, senior property control specialist at the Fort Worth Auto Pound, said several requirements must be met to release impounded vehicles.

“Only the registered owner of the vehicle can authorize the release of an impounded car,” West said. “If you aren’t the registered owner, a notarized affidavit must be faxed to the impound lot and all city fines must be paid before the car can be released.”

West said a current driver’s license, photo ID and proof of insurance must be presented as well as the title, vehicle registration or a lease contract less than one year old. Some fees are subject to the 8.25 percent city tax and all fees must be paid for release, she said.

Johnson said students should also be aware that city violation fees have increased. Wendy Davis, a member of the Fort Worth City Council, said the Council approved parking fee increases to match those charged in cities of the same size in its Aug. 19 meeting.

Council minutes show that the fine for parking outside specified hours in a no-parking zone or loading zone went from $15 to $25. A $100 fee is now charged for parking in a fire zone, within 15 ft. of a fire hydrant, in a handicapped space or a tow-away zone.

“Students will need to be very conscious of the areas they choose to park,” Johnson said.
TCU Police Chief Steve McGee said there is plenty of parking on campus.

According to the Physical Plant - Facility Planning maps, nearly 7,000 parking spots are accessible to TCU and Brite Divinity School faculty, staff and students. This figure does not include maintenance, visitor, 30-minute parking, bus parking or loading zone spots.

A parking permit must be purchased to use the commuter, student, main, faculty/staff and reserved lots.

According to TCU police, permits can be purchased at the TCU Police office and purchasers should present current auto insurance, a driver’s license and the vehicle tag number.

Becky Brandenburg