Mr. Pavagouzas hooks up with an Athens tow-truck and works to prevent and punish those who park illegally.
Photo By: Adrianna Ochoa, Photographer

Disclaimer: the following article was written as a part of The Seminole’s 2015 April Fool’s issue. The content included is false, including interviews. Happy April Fool’s Day!

By: Jillian Lachcik, Reporter and Norbert Savard, Reporter

Throughout the past few years, one major problem has been recurring at Seminole High School: illegal parking on campus. Due to this issue, Seminole’s Dean, Mr. Nicholas Pavagouzas, was given the privilege to bring in and drive the school’s own new tow truck. This way, students will be less tempted to park illegally on school grounds.

According to Seminole High School’s parking code, students may be in violation more than they might realize. When a student parks in a faculty designated parking spot, on the grass towards the front of the school, behind the portables, or without a parking pass, they are in major violation of this code. The code does state that if students are caught performing any of these actions, their vehicle must be towed within a 20 mile radius.

Junior Donald Prescott says, “I understand why [students] may be in violation, but we shouldn’t be towed for it! Parking passes are too outrageously priced and it’s not fair for us to pay a towing fee.”

As for Pavagouzas, he is being provided with a 2015 Ford F-150 towing truck from Athens Towing in Sanford to tow student’s vehicles. The truck can tow up to 12,200 pounds, which is equivalent to about two SUVs. Pavagouzas has vowed to put a stop to this continuous issue of towing without paying for it, or towing where student vehicles are not permitted.

Pavagouzas says, “I am getting so tired of students parking on campus without passes, because it is really unfair to those kids who have spent their money to park here. I am hoping that if I carry this out for a few weeks, students will not be inclined to illegally park on campus anymore. Besides, I get to drive around a pretty sweet truck for a while.”

After examining the cost of being towed, students may want to reconsider their inclination to park on Seminole’s campus just because it easier for them. To be precise, if towed, students could be in jeopardy of getting fined up to $135.

Senior Jacqueline Wright says, “This is ridiculous and I can’t believe Mr. Pav would want to do something like this. We have to get to school some way, and I would die taking the bus.”

Once the car is towed it will be taken to an impound, where towed cars are stored, in Sanford. The owners of the towed vehicle will have to pay a fine of $25 every 24 hours that the car is there.

Junior Patricia Walsh says, “Finally the school is taking action against the illegal parking. Now the students that actually paid for the parking pass can actually park, instead of being beat out by students with no parking pass. Plus, sophomores will stop stealing our parking spots.”

With this new towing addition, Pavagouzas hopes to put an end to the illegal parking situation.