Stringrays tourny

My dad just came back from the tourny about an hour and a half ago with a parking ticket,just wondering how this happens,when there were no signs saying he had to pay for parking,no one taking money for parking,I guess I am a little confussed? It's a $50.00 fine? Can someone from the Stringrays explain this?

Every single coach and team had been notified many times about the parking situation at this tournament. Not only that but the Stingrays folks do a great job of making all of the information availble here on the OFC. If there were any parents who did not get the information about how the parking worked then they need look no further then their head coach.

Wondering if this person came really late or really early prior to or after Stingrays volunteers were gone, if they had them like previous years.???????

If not, then I would be upset too. I can see how relatives or last minute attendees not being in the KNOW, should not be penalized if there were NOT signs or personal at the entrances like there normally are. I've never been to Beekman park for Stingrays, when there weren't Stingrays parents with cones managing the entrance to the pay parking areas. If there wasn't anyone there, then I would be a little annoyed too. Our softball community is conditioned to pay when people are present selling tickets. NOT FOR MUNICIPLE PARKING SITUATIONS.

And if I were a newbie having a 14u at Pickerington HS playing where parking was FREE, why would I think I need to pay for parking at Beekman for my 16 or 18u kids. Same Tourney,,,, right? No need to reply as I know the answer, but just saying, I can see lots of scenarios where people would/should think parking is FREE if people are NOT asking them for money at the entrance.

Maybe an opportunity for next year, as Stingrays NO DOUBT ran great tourney this weekend. ^_^!

JMHO.

You can't park anywhere on campus without getting a ticket unless you have a pass. I remember when I lived in the stadium dorm and the band practiced in the parking lot. 3:00 came, if your car was not outta there, it was towed away. They would have tow trucks lined up ready to go and 3:00 sharp they started hooking up! It was funny seeing people run after their cars.

This is a 70 year old man that enjoys watching the game, no affiliation to any team. Just likes to go up to the fields and park himself under a shade tree and watch some softball. His granddaughter used to play but has since moved on to college. Kinda got hooked on softball then. Does not have a computer. So how is a person to know there is parking fee when there is no one there to collect fees? It's not about the money, he would have gladly paid a parking fee. Keep in mind that this man drove from Columbus to Oklahoma (about 950 miles) to watch the 2010 College World Series and paid $15.00 a day for 6 days. Come on now, nice job OSU Trans. Dept. in posting signs about the parking fee, NOT!!!

Go online at the web address listed in the back and appeal it.. I was *told* while talking to someone there today that if you appeal the ticket you stand a good chance of having it waived...

Doug Lenos said:

Go online at the web address listed in the back and appeal it.. I was *told* while talking to someone there today that if you appeal the ticket you stand a good chance of having it waived...

Click to expand...

Thanks Doug for the info.My dad allready said he's calling to complain Just a little dishearting,He also goes to all of the basketball high school games held there never had any problems,but after all of this he's questioning attending any of these games.

if we don't send letters about the cops and the cops disappear next season, does that mean the price of burgers goes up 10 dollars? yuk yuk yuk

Not getting a ticket was the only successful thing I did have happen to me this weekend!!

Thanks for the info on the parking ticket. Middle daughter had to miss this tournament. Oldest daughter went to one of her teams games to catch a little bit of it and give them an extra uniform between youngest daughters games at Berliner......anyway, she returns to her car after MAYBE 45 minutes to find a parking ticket. She too complained that there was no indication that there was a parking fee. She'll be appealing that tonight!!

good luck ... the OSU cop/employee giving out the tiks was very nice, he told me the appeal usually works, esp if you are out of town and just there for the weekend.

Considering it is a college campus, the vast majority of parking is by students, employees or people with university business. The Stingrays tournament is not affiliated with OSU, but just uses the facilities. It's a fact of life that most major universities charge for ALL on campus parking. All students and employees MUST have a permit, and they are NOT CHEAP. Money generated from parking fees is just another revenue stream, and hopefully helps keep tuition lower than it might be without that revenue.

For monitoring purposes, this would require posting a full time volunteer for 16 hours each day at each and every lot entrance/exit to hopefully ensure everyone purchased their parking pass. Anyone familiar with OSU's parking lots near Beekman Park should realize the logistical challenge. Even so, there is no guarantee that someone wouldn't slip through. OSU restricts signage to some degree, so it's not as simple as sticking a big sign in the ground at every lot entrance. To compound this, there are several entrances/exits to the largest lot.

No system is perfect. I think the tournament staff did an excellent job of communicating OSU's policies on parking, but it's simply impossible to cover every single situation. Knowledge and communication is the key.

Considering the situation, I agree the appeal process may be the best avenue. Here is a link to get you started:

http://www.tp.ohio-state.edu/Citation/appeals.shtml