As students pick up their permits from the security office, they should be warned not to abuse the privilege.According to a study by the Parents’ Coalition of Montgomery County, WJ has the highest parking fine in the county at $40, while Wootton and Seneca Valley trail behind at $25.


 Sixteen of the 24 schools do not have a fine, according to the information that was obtained from the security staff and business managers.

According to a document released by the county, enforcement of parking issues is given to individual schools instead of a uniform policy, which explains the variation in parking fees. MCPS Regulation ECG-RA, which covers the parking procedures, states that the principal of each school is responsible for submitting to the Office of School Performance local school procedures for student parking and subsequently any revisions which may occur because of changing conditions.

Howard Beaubien, WJ’s security team leader, displayed no reservations on the parking policy.

“I believe the current policy is the fairest way to deal with people who choose to park on the WJ campus without a parking permit,” he said.

The fine is suited to match the cost of a parking permit. Before the construction, however, the parking fines were $25, but as the modernization developed, it was raised to $40.

“Parking became very limited and we began having a problem with students parking in assigned staff spots or parking without permits,” said business manager Kathleen Cosgrove. “So the fines were raised with the hopes that the violation would end or happen less often.”

As the final touches of the renovation are completed, Beaubien confirms that problems with parking indeed have decreased over the last three semesters, albeit for several different reasons.

“Enforcement of parking rules has been one factor,” said Beaubien. “Fewer students are applying for parking permits and driving to school which has helped reduce parking issues.”

In previous years, both seniors and juniors were allowed to apply for parking permits at the same time, although in most cases seniors received a priority. A limited number of permits had also been opened to qualified juniors, however, as fewer students applied for permits.

Questions remain, however, on the specific usages of the fine. The money collected goes into a general account that is used for the needs of the security team, such as equipment expenses.  The equipments could range from vests to wear while directing traffic in the parking lots, and portable signs to help with parking situations, according to Cosgrove. The security staff has collected $600 from parking tickets this year.

Whether the policy will change as the construction comes to an end remains uncertain. Students must display the parking permit at all times, however, in order to avoid the fine.