Motor Vehicle Registration, Parking Rules

(Revised November 2007)

The Campus Parking Committee formulated these regulations for the safety and convenience of the College community and their guests. Everyone who operates or parks a motor vehicle on the Connecticut College campus is subject to these regulations. Please read these regulations thoroughly; ignorance of the policies and regulations is not an acceptable reason for the appeal of a ticket.

Q: Registration

All vehicles operated on campus by members of the College community must PROPERLY display a valid pass issued by the Campus Safety Office.

• Student Registration

Students may register one vehicle permanently for the academic year which must be owned by them, a parent, a legal guardian or a spouse. A current driver's license, a current state vehicle registration and College ID or proof of fees paid MUST be presented to Campus Safety. There is a $75 fee per academic year to register. This fee will be charged to the student's account.

Decals which permit parking in student areas in the main campus will be issued to teaching assistants, full-time graduate students, seniors and RTC students in their last year of study. Decals that permit students to park in either North or South lot will be issued to juniors and sophomores. Freshmen are discouraged from having a vehicle on campus. However, decals which permit Freshmen to park in the Athletic Center lot are issued. Registration is valid for the academic year.

Decals must be adhered to the inside of the driver's side rear most window. Replacement decals will be issued upon return of the original or satisfactory proof of its destruction or loss. DECALS ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE.

• Faculty & Staff Registration

Beginning in academic year 2007-2008, the College will charge all faculty and staff a $200 fee to park on campus. That fee will be waived for all employees unless an employee receives a parking ticket and fails to pay the fine within 60 days following the parking violation. The change will affect only Faculty and employees who park illegally and fail to pay parking fines.

• Special Permits

Students who are physically disabled or who have special needs may apply for parking privileges that take those circumstances into account. Special permits include:

• Handicapped permit allows persons to park in any legal parking area including designated handicapped parking.
• Special needs permit allows persons to park in any legal parking area except designated handicapped parking.
• Upper Campus Student Medical allows parking in any student space on campus.
• Temporary Passes

Student vehicles that are unregistered with the College and will be on campus for a short period of time must obtain a temporary pass from Campus Safety. Temporary passes will be issued only for more than one day but no more than one week. Only two consecutive temporary passes will be issued per person.

• Changes

It is the responsibility of the registrant to report ANY changes in vehicle status such as a change in state registration or change in ownership.

• Correspondence

All correspondence related to motor vehicles regulations violations will be sent to the individual identified as the owner of the automobile as well as the individual identified as the operator of the vehicle if a moving violation.

Q: Motor Vehicle Operation

Motor vehicle operators must obey the basic rules of safe driving common to state motor vehicle codes. Particularly on the Connecticut College campus:

• Pedestrians have the right of way
• Speed limit is 15 mph
• All vehicle operators must cooperate with vehicle identification check, when in effect at the Gatehouse.
  

Q: Parking

• Parking spaces

Parking is permitted only in those areas indicated in the blue or red on the "Parking Regulations" brochure available at the Gatehouse or Campus Safety office. Parking is prohibited elsewhere, even in the absence of NO PARKING SIGNS.

Parking is forbidden where it creates a hazard, is a threat to safety, is a nuisance or when it damages College property. The following are explicitly forbidden:

• Blocking a fire hydrant or fire lane.
• Blocking a building exit/loading zone.
• Blocking a crosswalk, walkway or driveway.
• Parking in a posted tow zone.
• Parking on a sidewalk or unpaved area.
• Parking so as to create a traffic hazard.
• Parking in a designated handicapped area without permit.
• Parking opposite of traffic flow.
  
• Student Lot Parking

Vehicles are restricted to parking in the lot designated on the decal except with a Main Campus decal vehicles can park in the south lot or north lot. A special thirty (30) minute pass may be obtained at the Gatehouse for parking in student spaces on the main campus for the purpose of loading or unloading a vehicle. Vehicles with NORTH or SOUTH lot decals will be allowed to park on campus from Friday at 5pm to Sunday at 5pm. From Sunday at 5pm to Friday at 5pm only Seniors are allowed to park on Upper Campus in their designated area.

• Parking during vacation periods

Students vehicles left on campus during Winter or Spring break must be parked in the North or South lot. Any vehicle that is left on campus during winter or spring break may be towed to the South lot at the owner's expense. Student vehicles should not be left on campus during summer recess and are subject to being towed off campus.

Q: Motorcycles and Mopeds

Motorcycles and mopeds are considered motor vehicles and are subject to these regulations, with the exception that mopeds may be parked at outside bike racks. Under no circumstances may such vehicles be parked indoors.

Q: Visitors

A visitor here for more than 24 hours should obtain a temporary pass from Campus Safety.

Q: Towing

• Causes for Towing

The College reserves the right to have vehicles towed from campus at the owner´s expense under the following circumstances:

• If parked in violation of Section IIIA.
• Upon receipt of any ticket in excess of five during the academic year.
• If banned from campus.
• At the discretion of Campus Safety when justified by existing conditions.
  
• Responsibility

The College does not assume responsibility for damage or costs that may result from having a vehicle towed.

• Cost

Any violation of these regulations that is reason for towing carries a fine of $40. Settlement with the tow truck operator and voluntary removal of the offending vehicle will not void or reduce this fine.

Q: Penalties

• Moving Violations

      For moving violations such as speeding, disobeying a stop sign, driving so as to endanger, carrying passengers on the outside of a vehicle, etc., or for failure to cooperate with vehicle identification check at the Gatehouse, a $40 fine will be imposed on the offender. For driving on the greens and/or grass area the fine will be $50 with the possibility of a damage assessment being levied.

      In addition, the first such offense could result in the loss of vehicle operation and parking privileges for 30 days (excluding vacations), and the second offense could result in the loss of the same privileges for the academic year.

      Vehicles registered in the name of the offender are subject to the above ban, and the offender could lose on-campus driving privileges.

• Non-moving Violations

      Vehicles not displaying or improperly displaying a decal will be fined $15. Vehicles parked so as to create a hazard may be towed from campus at the owners expense (see Towing). In addition, a fine will be imposed. Other parking violation tickets carry a fine of at least $15.

      Upon receipt of ANY ticket beyond the third, the vehicle may be towed from campus. Receipt of an eighth will result in the loss of driving and parking privileges for the remainder of the academic year.

      The person in whose name the vehicle is registered is responsible for all penalties incurred by the vehicle.

      Fraudulent registration or improper transfer, receipt or theft of a decal will subject the offender to permanent loss of vehicle privileges and to College disciplinary action.

      Parking or driving on campus in violation of an imposed parking or driving ban may result in towing or a fine of $70 and could result in disciplinary action.

Q: Appeals

The Campus Parking Committee, which includes students, staff and faculty representatives, is responsible for these regulations. It decides appeals of penalties and considers requests for individual variances or special treatment. Appeals must be filed with Office of Campus Safety within 30 days of the violation. Any appeal received after 30 days will not be considered. Appeal forms may be obtained from the Campus Safety Office or Gatehouse. COMMITTEE DECISIONS ARE FINAL.

Q: Vehicle Breakdowns

If your vehicle breaks down in an unauthorized parking area, you must call the Gatehouse for instructions.

Q: Booting

• The college reserves the right to have vehicles booted at the owner's expense under the following circumstances:
• If the owner of the vehicle is unknown and the vehicle has received five or more tickets.
• If the vehicle has been banned from campus.
• At the discretion of the Campus Safety Director when justified by existing circumstances.
• The college does not assume responsibility for damage if attempt is made to move vehicles while booted.
•  Any violation of the regulation that is a reason for booting carries a fine of $50.00.