Question: Why did I get a parking ticket for HEADED WRONG WAY?
Answer: You must park your vehicle consistent with the flow of traffic, park no more than 12 inches from the curb, and your vehicle must be parked parallel to the curb.

Question: Can I receive a parking ticket for PARKED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY
Answer: Yes. Violators will be towed at the owner’s expense and the owner and/or violator will be ticketed. The property owner or agent must first complete and sign the appropriate form(s). Private property owners may also opt to remove vehicles from their property without police involvement.

Question: What is considered the TRAVEL PORTION OF THE ROADWAY
Answer: Any vehicle parked in the roadway that blocks any vehicular traffic and emergency vehicles. 

Question: I was ticketed for PARKED IN YARD, why?
Answer: Parking in yards or lawns is not permitted. The only exception to this is on days of major sporting events associated with Purdue University and is allowed within 8 (eight) blocks of Purdue University.

Question: Why was I ticketed for a two hour violations when I’m certain my car was parked there for less than two hours.
Answer: All parking officers coordinate times at the start of each day using one uniform time schedule. Your particular timekeeping method may not be the same as used by parking control officers. Parking control officers carefully log times at the beginning and end of each route as well as multiple times during the route such as when they change streets. Enforcement practices actually yield a buffer or grace period of 5-10 minutes.

Question: I parked for a while, left to go get lunch and parked in the same spot, when I returned, I still received a parking ticket?
Answer: Drivers are required to park their cars in an entirely separate block. This rule helps avoid monopolization of the same parking spot all day.

Question: What if there are no signs immediately in front of my spot? How do I know how long I can park there?
Answer: The beginning and end of each block is marked to help drivers know that the entire block is enforced.

Question: I only parked there for 2-3 minutes and had my flashers on, so why did I get a ticket anyway?
Answer: Flashers are an obvious indication that a vehicle’s operator knows not to park in a particular spot. Remember that in the 2-4 minute window your vehicle is parked there, a firetruck, ambulance, or other lifesaving emergency vehicle might be unable to access the street due to your vehicle causing an obstruction.

Question: I received a parking ticket for a timed offense and I disagree with the ticket. What options do I have?
Answer: You have the option to contest a parking ticket first by appeal and then through West Lafayette City Court.

Question: Does the city have parking ticket quotas?
Answer: No, this is contrary to enforcement philosophy. To do so would conflict with the inherent reasons for the need of a parking enforcement program.

Question: Why was I ticketed for being PARKED IN YELLOW when only a small section of my car was actually in the yellow?
Answer: Yellow curbs are designed to create a safe space away from an intersection so vehicles can turn safely and without view obstructions created by vehicles parked on a yellow curb. There is no allowance for how much of the car is in the yellow before it’s ticketed. Any portion of the car in the yellow is considered a violation.

Question: I was parked in my drive briefly and was only blocking the sidewalk for 5 minutes, so why was I ticketed anyway?
Answer: Pedestrians and persons with disabilities require access to the sidewalk. Special chairs and/or equipment are safer to operate on a sidewalk than in the street.

Question: I parked facing the wrong direction only to unload items from my vehicle, why was I ticketed?
Answer: The vehicle must be driven left of center in order to park facing the wrong way. The vehicle then has to travel again, across traffic to get back into the correct travel pattern. Both present avoidable dangers.

Question: I received a ticket for timed parking, but there was no chalk marks on my tires. Why did I get a ticket?
Answer: The city has implemented a License Plate Recognition system (LPR), which does not require vehicles to be chalked.