At times it may not seem like it, but SCC has more than 2,000 parking spaces. In all, there are 1,500 student, 428 faculty, 74 visitor, 154 car pool and 184 auto-repair parking spaces. And, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, there are 24 spaces reserved for holders of disabled parking permits.
Of the total number of spaces, 70 are in the Sears parking lot and are serviced by a parking shuttle. Parking is often difficult to find at peak class hours in the morning, and this has led at times to both infractions of parking regulations as well as complaints that "disabled" slots are being used by non-permit drivers.
According to Sgt. Becky Gibler, Chief of Campus Security, disabled parking spots are checked daily for violators. In cases where it is suspected that a permit is being misused, campus security can check with the state to confirm the identity of any individual permit holder. There have been cases where repeat violators have been referred to off-campus law-enforcement agencies, which can levy stiffer fines. Disabled permit holders also are allowed to park in faculty and staff lots when regular disabled slots are occupied. Although there are abuses of disabled parking places, complaints about such abuses often turn out to be incorrect simply because not all disabilities are readily apparent and disability permits are not always easily visible or properly displayed.
Of the crimes which occur on the SCC campus, a significant percentage occur in the parking areas. Most incidents involve theft from unoccupied vehicles or "hit and run" damage. Students should be cautioned not to leave cash, or other valuable in their vehicles, and especially not out in the open.
