A property-holding company’s parking policy, enforced with wheel clamps and parking tickets, might make students think twice about where and when they park for a night on The Strip.

The company Inland Management owns University Town Center, the shopping center containing The UPS Store, Coldstone, TCBY and 8 other businesses, said Don Graham, owner of The UPS Store in the shopping center. Inland Properties also owns Publix and its parking lot.

The properties sit adjacent to the University but are not owned by the University, Graham said.

Several people, according to Tony Humphries, an employee with WVUA’s television crew, have received a wheel clamp for parking in University Town Center. A wheel clamp is a metal clamp that parking regulators place on the wheels of cars to prohibit driving away without calling the regulators, who can exclusively remove the clamps, and paying a fine.

Humphries, who received a wheel clamp himself, said he thought his UA parking permit gave him access to the lot.

“I parked here two nights, nothing happened,” Humphries said.

“Thursday night, it’s like boom. My car and about seven others were booted”

Humphries said he thought the booting was suspicious and possibly illegal because of his tag and the nature of the regulator.

“When I called the number, an unmarked plain white truck came up,”

Humphries said. “I had to pay 50 dollars cash, no debit, no credit, just cash.”

The company managing the parking, Intelligent Parking Systems, was unavailable for comment.

Emily Couch, a UA junior majoring in biology, said she has never had a problem with the parking situation.

“There are signs that are visibly posted everywhere,” Couch said. “The Strip’s not owned by campus. It’s not University-owned property, and it’s never been advertised that it is.

“As a worker from TCBY, it’s hard to find a parking spot when everyone’s parking over here trying to go to lunch at [Buffalo] Phil’s,” Couch said. “It makes me late.”

Graham said patrons on The Strip are costing the owners of the shopping center.

“The problem is that we pay for it, and they want to park here and go to restaurants,” Graham said.

“There are plenty of signs [indicating parking regulations], and rent isn’t cheap,” Graham said.

Cathy Andreen, director of media relations, said the regulation regarding UA parking permits is clear for campus and the surrounding area.

“I’m not sure why a student would believe a UA parking permit would allow them to park there other than under the stated regulations that apply to anyone who is shopping there,” Andreen said.

“The lots in that shopping center are properly marked with signs stating the parking regulations there,” she added.

The University of Alabama’s Traffic and Parking Regulations website, bamaparking.ua.edu, has a map listing all zones covered by all parking permits issued by the University. The closest authorized zone to The Strip is the West Commuter Zone.