Parking decals now mandatory

After a year's delay, parking decals are required for all students.

Students parking on campus are now required to register their cars with the North Lake College (NLC) Police Department and obtain a parking permit decal for their rear windows.

"It will be easier to identify vehicles that belong on campus and those that don't.," said J. C. Drake, North Lake College police chief.

More than a year in the making, the decal program was slated to begin in the fall 2007 semester. But technical problems and design requirements created delays, Drake said.

North Lake is the first college in the Dallas County Community College District to require decals for all students, Drake said.

The decals are free to all students. Students either sign up at admissions when enrolling for classes or go to the NLC Police Department, C-204, and fill out a registration to receive their decals.

There is a three- to four-week grace period for students to get their decals. After that, students will receive a $5 citation if they do not have one.

If a guest receives a citation while parking on campus, Drake said they can get it dismissed by visiting the police department.

Student Subash Bhamdari likes the idea of the new decals.

"Since its free, it's a benefit to us," Bhamdari said. He said it would help with accidents and vehicle-related crime on campus.

Shanica Tisdell said it might be a minor inconvenience for students who, like her, aren't taking many courses at North Lake.

"I guess for safety and security reasons, it's good to know who is on campus," she said.

The decals will expire at the end of August 2009. At that time, students will have to remove their old decals and register for new ones. Drake said the 2009-2010 decals will go on the outside of the rear windshield.

Drake said the program would cost the school several thousand dollars. Pamphlets and other documentation will cost about a thousand dollars, he said, and printing the decals will cost two to three thousand dollars.