Commuter Services generates a minimal amount of money from parking tickets. Less than 5% of our total operating budget comes from ticket revenue. We don’t write tickets to generate revenue, we write tickets to change parking behavior and encourage adherence to the parking rules. The revenue that is generated from parking tickets goes back into the parking system to help fund the maintenance of parking lots on campus, and to fund programs such as the campus shuttle system and the SafeRide program.

Please view the below graphics for a detailed breakdown of how parking dollars are spent. For more information about how Commuter Services impacts campus, please visit our Transportation Dashboard.

In order to encourage adherence to campus parking rules and regulations, parking lots are enforced consistently regardless of occupancy levels. Commuter Services monitors occupancy rates in parking lots across campus regularly, and makes adjustments to parking designations to better use underutilized lots. One example is the U after 3:00pm program, which allows U permits to park in most A permit areas after 3pm.

This is a MYTH!

No, Compliance Officers do not have a daily ticket quota. Compliance Officers are paid a flat, hourly rate, regardless of the number of citations they write during their shift.

No, Compliance Officers are not paid on commission and do not have daily ticket quotas. We write tickets to educate drivers, change parking behavior, and encourage adherence to parking rules and regulations, not to generate revenue. In general, parking citation revenue makes up less than 5% of our total operating budget.

Warnings are written on a case-by-case basis, depending on the parking infraction.

Entrance signs and individually posted signs within the lot notify you of what is needed to park in that specific area. Parking guidelines and regulations can be found on our website.

Parking is enforced year-round except for University-recognized State Holidays. Parking is never allowed in fire lanes, bus lanes, undesignated areas (curbs, grass, etc.), red curbs, crosshatch areas, fire lanes, or as noted by signage, and is enforced 24/7.

Commuter Services is currently working to implement a campus parking diversion program, which will allow drivers to reduce or waive certain parking tickets by completing an online training course.

While parking on campus is limited, we do have parking availability. Parking lots located on the interior of campus are frequently at capacity during peak hours, however we have available stalls in the periphery lots on campus. Rather than circling around the interior lots on campus waiting for a stall to become available, drivers can generally save time by parking in one of the periphery lots on campus and riding the campus shuttle to their destination. Ahead of Fall Semester 2025, Commuter Services will introduce a live parking occupancy system on campus. This new system will allow drivers to view the amount of stalls available in various parking lots on campus through an app on their phone. Using this real time data drivers can then navigate to the parking lots which have availability, and avoid parking lots which are already at capacity.

Parking regulations are enforced year round, including during academic breaks. A parking permit, or valid form of payment is required to park on campus during academic breaks. The University continues operations on both main campus and on the Health Science campus during academic breaks, therefore enforcement of parking regulations is necessary year round.

Commuter Services is charged with balancing the need for adequate parking against the need to remain fiscally responsible, and dedicated to the University’s sustainable goals. The average cost to build a new parking garage on campus is $40,000 per stall, and even more if the parking garage is built under a building, or if it includes amenities on top of the garage, such as the play field on the top of the Central Garage. This means it would cost the University roughly $32-$40 million dollars to build a new parking garage on campus, depending on the size of the garage. In addition to the significant cost to build parking, the University is committed to reducing single occupancy vehicle (SOV) trips to campus by encouraging the use of alternative transportation. We promote alternative transportation by providing free UTA transit passes, operating the campus shuttle system and URide program, and by providing scooters, bikes, and walking paths on campus.

University reserved stalls, designated by a sign in front of the stall, are not available for general use. Reserved stalls on campus serve a designated purpose, including maintenance vehicle parking, courier parking, and University police parking. Additionally, employees of the University may purchase a designated employee reserved stall in select locations. Unauthorized vehicles in reserved stalls may be cited or relocated, and the fine for a reserved stall violation is significantly higher than a parking permit violation.