D.C. Council Targets A.U.

Students With New Parking Restrictions

For Immediate Release eb8106a@american.edu July 11, 2012 Washington, D.C. On Tuesday July 10th, the D.C. Council passed the Residential Parking Protection Act of 2011, forcing changes in parking laws for students at American University. The law will require students living in residentially zoned areas in ANC districts 01, 02, 07, 08 and 10 to register their cars in the District, and obtain DC insurance, licenses and tags. As of Tuesday morning, 769 students had signed a petition opposing the bill. Under previous law, students were allowed to purchase a reciprocity permit from the D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles for $338, and bypass the D.C. car requirements. The law adds zones around American University to a growing list of restricted areas in the city. Student reciprocity parking permits are banned in locations near George Washington University and Georgetown University. The bills passage was another sign that needs of students are being ignored in the political process. "Today's decision to pass the Residential Parking Protection Act is another clear sign that the DC Council is continuing to target college students, and specifically those at American University, instead of focusing on sound transportation policy," said Evan Brown, Policy Director for DC Students Speak. "This bill will cost the city $261,500 in revenues over the next 5 years. This is money that could be spent improving Ward Circle, which puts students and drivers at risk every day. Instead of recognizing the unique economic situation that encompasses bringing a family-owned car to school, the Council has chosen to force college students to jump through a number of hoops and fork thousands of dollars over to insurance companies just for the right to park outside their own homes." In December, representatives from DC Students Speak, along with former AU SG President Sarah McBride, testified in opposition to the bill in front of a D.C. Council subcommittee. At that time, the bill was written so that it would revoke the reciprocity permit procedure for all D.C. college students. Contact: Evan Brown,

A recent analysis by the city estimated the law would impact 200 student drivers, many of whom may now not be able to afford the insurance required to use cars they rely on in order to get from their homes to school and work. I rely on my car to travel from my apartment to school, my internship in Tacoma Park, and my babysitting job in Chevy Chase DC, said Kathryn Braistad, a rising senior at American University who lives in a residential area ten minutes drivingdistance away from the main campus. I moved off-campus to find more affordable housing. If the D.C. Council says I have to switch my car registration and insurance, Im simply not going to be able to afford that change. It would cost too much money.

Once the bill is signed by Mayor Gray, it will go through a 30 day congressional review period. DC Students Speak will focus on getting the word out to students about the new changes, and hopes to get more students involved in local activism "Since this bill is unfortunately now law, we're going to do everything we can to get the message out to American University students about how to best comply with the new regulations," said Michael Panek, President of DC Students Speak. "We'll continue to urge the D.C. Council to re-evaluate their stance, but we don't anticipate changes to happen anytime soon. This is an example of why it's important for college students to engage in the local political process. It impacts our everyday lives."

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