Use fines wisely

Parking tickets nearly rank with death and taxes as assured events in one's life. So why not make them work for the benefit of society?\nFew will argue that the new theater is not a welcome addition to campus, but many, I'm sure, can find the time to complain about traffic and having a hard time finding a parking place. \nCommuters have many options. One can always buy a parking sticker. Or one could come up with a creative solution for his or her commuting needs, such as walking, riding a bike, using public transportation or car pooling.\nBut some Americans apparently believe they have an inalienable right to an automobile, and certainly they should never have a difficult time finding a place to park it.\nFor people coming from surrounding communities, it might be impractical to walk, bike or car pool to get to campus. But for students who drive a mere three or four blocks to campus, the fine should be quadrupled. There really is no excuse.\nIf additional parking fines are imposed, they should be used to create more parking. The additional cost not covered by the increased fines has to be off-set somewhere, and for those who don't drive, paying for more parking seems ludicrous. The theater is a happy medium. Additional parking only helps those who park and does little to benefit anyone else.\n Theaters don't pollute or cause traffic congestion; they entertain and inform. And if an increase in parking fines might benefit the entire community, then it can only be seen as an act of one type: That of common sense. Anything else is mere complacency.