On January 17, right after school began, out of 137 cars parked at the icy lot, 83 had visible parking permit slips visible, and 54 did not. So, 39.42% of parked cars were without parking permits compared to our most recent reporting which was a year ago in December 2023. At that point, 41% of cars parked didn’t have permits. The $40 fines haven’t worked as a deterrent for all.

The race to get parking permits for the student lot at West Potomac begins in the summer, parking slips fill up fast and juniors and seniors compete to get out of the packed lot every day at 2:55 when the bell rings before the buses leave. But, the students without the money for a pass, or the luck to get these sought after passes are left for the nearby lpts, or more conveniently but less allowed; the factalite lot. The faculty lot near Gunston is some students’ hideaway, the green and yellow fatality sticker sits at the hood of the cars at most cars lining the lot.

Some cars were parked seemingly to have placed look alike permits to the faculty FCPS permits, but when further inspected there was no real permit, or parked away from the visible view obstructing possible tickets from looking in.