New UTAPS parking permits are being implemented this summer at Sacramento State to comply with California state driving laws and the “go green” movement.

A driving law listed on the DMV website for California prohibits drivers from having any objects blocking the view of the windshield. This law is in V C Section 26708 of the California Driver Handbook and has been in effect since 2009.

Director of Transportation and Parking Administration Gina Lombardo said the new permits are more convenient for students, faculty and staff in terms of placement.

“The law requires no hanging objects from the rear-view mirror, so drivers have to take the permits off the mirror before driving and place them back on when they are parked at the university,” Lombardo said. “The new permits can stay affixed to the inside of the windshield at all times, and do not need to be taken off to comply with the law.”

Lombardo said the new parking permits are also more earth-friendly.

“The new permits are cheaper to produce and are ‘greener,'” Lombardo said. “It takes less material to construct the permits.”

The Consumer Energy Center webpage states plastic materials, such as the current parking permits, are difficult to put through the recycling process. Plastics have to be separated into special categories before they can be completely recycled, which is an expensive process.

Although there have been three reported incidents of permit theft since last year, Lombardo said UTAPS has not noticed a dramatic increase in theft of the current parking permits.

“The new permits will provide for easier tracking if they are stolen,” Lombardo said. “It will also be easier for our parking officers to scan and track stolen permits. They are able to scan the barcode on the new repositionable permits.”

Lombardo said the fees for the new parking permits will remain the same as the current ones.

“The cost for student semester permits is $159, Residence Hall semester permits $206, faculty semester permit $69.25.” Lombardo said.

The new parking permits will feature photographs of different areas around campus.

Jessika Robertson can be reached at [email protected].