Nothing Like a Parking Ticket to Make You Cranky

It's not a BIG deal, but it is bugging me.

BYU began a new parking "sticker" process for faculty this year: we no longer use a sticker as our permit, but rather our car license plate as our "permit" to park.

You see, they/BYU purchased this amazing computer system and cars that literally "scan and read" our plates as they drive through the lots. This system allows them to check hundreds of cars in a matter of minutes--and it saves time/costs for faculty because we are no longer required to renew permits (paperwork, administrative costs . . .).

But there is one problem:

there's a glitch in the scanner that mis-reads your plate if it's a specialty plate.

And I have one of those plates--a BYU specialty plate. I got the dang plate years ago because it has a little Y on it AND because each year a $50.00 donation goes back to the university when I register my car.

I thought it was a cool thing.

WAS being the operative word here.

After 3 parking tickets in 3 trips to the university, I no longer think the specialty plate is cool. It's causing me major grief because anytime the scanner drives by my car, it reads the "Y" as an 8 and then tries to match my plate against the faculty database . . .  and comes back with a donut.

Now, of course BYU waives the fine and clears me eventually, so there's no real harm in this little computer glitch.

EXCEPT that I get to stand in line at a DMV type operation on campus every time they ticket me.

I've logged about 60 minutes in waiting time so far.

It's making me cranky.

REALLY CRANKY.

I think I need to learn about mediatation pretty soon. Another ticket is likely to take me over the edge.

Not. Kidding.