tl19720303-000 "towerlight Volume XXV No. 5 Towson State College March 3, 1972 Towson, Maryland 21204 Thirty-two cars towed in two days: Faculty reactions prompted as security enforces towing rules by Jud Almond A crackdown in parking regulations on campus resulted in a hassle between members of the faculty and Campus Security Police Tuesday at 2 p.m. behind Smith Hall. Acting on a directive by Sgt. William Morton, Supervisor of Parking, Officer Sam Phillips ordered the towing of four cars parked illegally in a curb zone near Smith Hall. The notice, mailed to all faculty and staff on February 23, warned that all parking regulations would be strictly enforced, and that ticketing and towing would follow any violations. Cars towed Three of the cars were towed away, and the fourth was moved by its owner, a faculty member, who parked it in the loading zone behind Smith Hall and went to class. Towson students and faculty in Tuesday's parking incident. Photo by Jud Almond blocking the path of the tow truck Sgt. Morton later spotted the illegally parked car, and ordered that it be towed away. Pushed car Because of the precarious position of the car, the men who came to tow it could not line the truck up to the bumpers. Therefore, they pushed the ear out into the driveway, where they proceeded to hook up the chains. Crowd gathers A crowd gathered, and stood in front of the tow truck, preventing the car from being taken away. In a few moments, the faculty member who owned the car came out, paid the $10 fine, and had the men take the chains off his car. Notices not received A number of faculty members questioned in Smith Hall claimed that the *notice of enforcement had not reached A Towson faculty members car and faculty blocked the way and their mail boxes until Tuesday, February 29. Delay responsible Security Director Gene Dawson said that the delay in receipt of the notice was partially responsible for today's occurrence. He also mentioned that the Baltimore County Fire Department has issued a stern warning concerning cars which have repeatedly blocked vital Dawson issues parking ultimatum by George E. Mattingly Director of Security, Gene Dawson responded to Tuesdays outbreaks of indignation against his department's crackdown on parking violators, saying that . ""We will allow everyone until March 6 to adjust their parking habits, and if they continue to violate the regulations after that date, it's going to be too bad."" Don't park illegally Dawson however advised everyone concerned that his people would not tolerate flagrant violations until that date, and that persons parked in tow-away ones could still expect to be towed. Dawson indicated that the grace period is primarily for faculty members who have been parking illegally for years, and seem to be reluctant to break the habit. He was particularly adamant that persons parking in fire zones would be towed immediately, regardless of the circumstances. The County Fire Department has been riding the College hard on fire zone violations. The problem has been of extremely serious consequences in the area in front of the new dorm. The area in front of the dorm is a fire-zone, and when the fire department arrived early Tuesday morning, they were unable to get their equipment anywhere 'near the building. Fire. Department officials called the situation ""absolutely intolerable and said that ""if that place would have been on fire this morning, there would have been no way to extinguish it."" Dawson said that he felt enforcement of the parking regulations might have gotten a bit carried away, but that his people would continue to ""equitably enforce the regulations."" Photo by George Mattingly Security director Dawson and Bob Bauerle are seen talking to the crowd gathered Tuesday. Dawson said, ""We will allow everyone until March 6 to adjust their parking habits..."" Photo by Jud Almond was being towed until students the owner paid his fine. areas, making them inaccessible to fire apparatus. Teacher dissatisfied When questioned, the faculty member involved said that he had not received the parking notice, and that his car was towed without warning. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the sudden reverse in policy, noting that faculty members had parked along the road (illegally) ticketed. Parking a problem He also complained that students park in faculty lots and are ticketed, but not towed unless someone complains. This, he went on to say, forces faculty members to look elsewhere for a parking place, from which they are towed if parked illegally. Not placing the entire blame on students, the faculty member noted the entire parking situation on campus, where no one can park where they are supposed to. College to pay The college administration has accepted the fact that the mail delay contributed to the misunderstanding, and has agreed to reimburse all who were towed. Cost to the college will be about $150. Security Director Dawson has given faculty members until March 6 to comply with parking regulations. Index page 1 on campus news page 2 commentary page 3-5 letters page 6-8 on campus news page 9-12 news feature-- education insert page 13-14 on campus news page 15 features page 16-17 goings on page 19 sports 'page 20 off-campus news "
