Effective for the 2020-21 school year, Ball State Parking Services will be transitioning to a License Plate Recognition system (LPR) for parking enforcement. LPR is more than just a license plate capture. The system converts an image (picture of the license) to computer data that can be checked against a database. LPR systems for parking compliance are rapidly becoming best practice for many colleges and universities across the nation. Ball State will realize significant cost savings over time in postage, printing costs for stickers, and other efficiencies.

Beginning August 24 (start of the fall semester), University parking enforcement vehicles will scan the license plates of all vehicles parked in all University surface lots and parking garages. This will ensure compliance with the type of permit purchased and to confirm the vehicle is registered in the Parking Services database. You will register your vehicle(s) as always on the Parking Services website, but the traditional color-coded parking stickers will no longer be necessary and will no longer be issued.

Under the new LPR system, students, faculty, and staff can still register up to 10 vehicles under one purchased permit, although only one vehicle may be parked on campus at a time. No more switching/replacing window stickers for multiple registered vehicles.

In the coming weeks, you will be receiving an email inviting you to purchase the permit of your choice for the 2020-21 school year. This procedure has not changed. Permit sales for employee permit renewals will begin on April 9, 2020 and for all employee permits on April 21, 2020.

Please refer to this comprehensive Q&A document that answers the most popular questions regarding the transition to the new LPR system. Please direct any questions about this new system to parking@bsu.edu.