Employee Parking Ticket In Employer Car?

Should I have to pay this parking ticket?

• I work at a university and received a parking ticket. The lot is generally reserved for cars with employee permits and has gates preventing entry. The gates open for general access after a certain time at which anyone can park there. The last few days, both gates have been wide open with a big sign saying LOT CLOSED JULY 17-AUGUST 26. Seeing as it was July16th, both gates were open and it is the middle of summer between semesters I naturally assumed it was ok to park there. Only to come out for my lunch break to find a ticket on my window. I spotted the parking enforcement officer and asked him why I received a ticket when both gates are wide open with a sign saying it won't be closed until tomorrow. I explained to him that I felt that was misleading. He simply told me that I got the ticket for an improper permit, if I wanted to contest the ticket I would have to go to the office and that if I didn't move my car I could get a second ticket. Should I have to pay this parking ticket under these circumstances?

• Answer:

  since this occured the day before they were going to be closed, they were probably still running on the official schedule that is followed regularly. was the time you parked there, a time you could have normally parked there regardless of the status of the gates?