Virtual parking permits, or e-permits, go into effect on Sunday, Aug. 1, as Transit and Parking officially transitions to patrolling U of A parking areas with license plate recognition (LPR) technology.

From that date onward, the focus will be on scanning license plates to determine whether vehicles are parked legally or not, as opposed to the previous procedure of looking for the appropriate windshield decals.

University employees are reminded that current parking decals (for the 2020-21 school year) expire on July 31. It is important to purchase a new e-permit online at this time, if you have not already done so.

Students who will be attending the 2021-22 school year may go online to purchase a parking permit beginning on Aug. 2.

While Transit and Parking does not anticipate any major problems during this transition, we also realize that no major change occurs without an occasional difficulty or some needed adjustments.

We appreciate your patience as LPR is implemented. If you encounter a problem, please email parking@uark.edu or phone 479 575-7929.

There are two important items that motorists should keep in mind with the implementation of LPR: (1) make sure the correct license plate number or numbers are accurately linked to your parking permit when you make the online purchase; and (2) remember that beginning on Aug. 1, each driver on campus should always park with the license plate facing the drive lane.

Those who want to back into a parking space or pull through a parking space cannot do so unless the front of the vehicle has an identifying plate.  Some states (such as Texas or Missouri) already require plates on both the front and the back.  If you wish to back in or pull through a parking space and you are from a state that requires a rear plate only (such as Arkansas) you will need to see Transit and Parking at 155 South Razorback Road, where you may purchase a front plate that authorizes you to back in or to pull through.

The cost of such a license plate is only $11 and it can be used from one year to the next, as long as it can still be accurately scanned.  Again, this purchase is only necessary for those who wish to back in or pull through.

Whether you have a front plate or not, backing into an angled parking space is not permitted anywhere on campus.

During the month of August, as drivers on campus get accustomed to the requirement that the license plate must face the drive lane, Transit and Parking will issue warning citations to those who park by backing into a parking space or pulling through a parking space. This grace period will last from August 2 through September 3, and will only apply to the requirement that license plates must face the drive lane.  It does not guarantee that a warning citation will be issued for other violations.

Many additional LPR details were provided in a previous Arkansas News article.

You may also see more information in LPR frequently asked questions.