A new Web site sells T-shirts and gives students the chance to express their frustration with ASU Parking and Transit Services in a bold way.
Justin Cairns, a marketing and management junior, and Justin Chastain, a management senior, started the site www.screwparking.com in late February.
They created the site after Chastain had his car towed by PTS during a license plate check that discovered three unpaid parking tickets.
"Even though he was in the wrong in not paying his tickets, it was still a frustrating situation for him," Cairns said.
The site, which Cairns said had more than 5,000 hits on its first day, sells T-shirts with a picture of a large screw above the words "Parking and Transit."
With each T-shirt purchase, the buyer is entered into a drawing to have a parking ticket paid off up to $25.
In addition, students who have had their cars towed can receive a free T-shirt if they provide a receipt of the towing fee.
The site also sponsors a "horror stories" contest where students can submit their worst experiences with parking at ASU. Winners will also have a ticket paid up to $25.
Mark Krug, PTS information specialist, said he has seen the site, but the department has no comment.
PTS is doing the best it can to serve the interests of students, faculty and staff, and it is a major challenge to handle the development on campus and the loss of parking that comes with it, Krug said.
The site is not a direct attack on PTS, Cairns said, but rather a chance to "make light of an unfortunate situation."
Kristin Zeller, a political science sophomore, said she has received five tickets, ranging from expired meters to illegal parking.
"Someone needed to do it." Zeller said of the site.
Reach the reporter at charles.obrien@asu.edu.
