Illegal use of parking permits

[kj05]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

I am a student at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. I live in an apartment complex just off campus. This complex was built by the university just over 10 years ago, but is operated and managed by an independent third party. According to the university I am not allowed a parking permit for campus parking as I live in a restricted area. Here is what is quoted from the parking service site.

Commuter
Commuter permits MUST be purchased in person at the Parking Services Office and cannot be requested online.
Commuter Permit Eligibility:
* Must be a student that does not reside in a residence hall or fraternity house.
* Students who live in Mill Street Village, Riverpark Towers, Riversedge, University Commons, Grace Apartments, University Courtyard, and The Summit are not eligible for commuter permits. Other apartment complexes may not be eligible but not listed here.
* Commuter permits are issued to those who live one mile outside the nearest commuter lot. Walking routes (not driving routes) are used to determine this one mile radius from the home to determine eligibility.
* Must have registered a vehicle with Parking Services (license plate required).
* Permits must be purchased in person at the Department of Parking Services, 100 Factory Street. A driver's license and Student ID is required to purchase a permit.
* All commuter students must present a copy of their local lease upon
purchasing a commuter permit. The lease must be:
* Current (or for the upcoming school year if purchasing in advance for a new school year).
* Valid (dates must clearly indicate the lease is for the school year in which the permit being purchased. Parking Services is unable to accept leases in which an past date has been crossed out with a new date written in).
* Complete (the lease must include the name of the student purchasing the permit, the full address where the student will be living, the valid dates of the lease, and it must be signed by both
the tenant and the landlord).

* Students living with a friend or with their parents who are not included on a lease may present the following items as proof of residency after August 17, 2009 (only a lease will be accepted prior to that date).
* A recent utility bill including the name of the student purchasing the permit and the address where the student will be living.
* Recent non-OU bill or mailing in the name of the student purchasing the permit and including the address in which the student will be living. Examples of this are: utility bills such as gas, electric, and cable; credit card statements, cell phone bill statements, junk mail (dated within last 30 days), and magazines. Electronic statements are acceptable for utility bills, bank statements, and cell phone bills only. All electronic statements must show the commuting address.
* An addendum from the lessee (the lessee is the property owner--not a roommate) indicating the individual is living at the residence is also acceptable (this cannot be a handwritten note).
Items we cannot accept as proof of residency are: Handwritten mail, Ohio University Mail, mail without a postmark date, and a lease that has dates or names that have been changed or altered.
Students unable to provide proof of a local address will not be able to purchase a permit until such proof can be provided. Commuter permits are always available and do not "sell out".

Now the university has no record of my lease with this company to live in said apartments. Yet a week ago I was ticketed for an illegal use for a $105 fine and was "impounded" with a boot on my vehicle. When questioned about this the agent at our parking services office said they had acquired a signed copy of my lease. When asked how they got this copy of a lease she stated "we have our ways."
Now my question here is, legally can they be allowed to restrict the sell of a permit based on location, and second how can they acquire a copy of a lease without my consent when the company running the complex says that in order for anyone to get a copy I have to ask them to release it.

[justalayman]

they can make the rules as the see fit so yes, they can restrict who they sell or supply permits to.

Is there some reason you believe your contract is confidential? It isn't. Apparently somebody at the apartment complex did provide a copy.

Would you rather they left the boot on until you hunted down a copy?


why don't you have a copy to show them? You should always keep a copy of all contracts. You never know when the other party's copy seems a bit different than you remember it was when you signed it.