Rules and Regulations

The University of Maryland, Baltimore is committed to providing the University community with a variety of safe and efficient resources for parking and transportation.

Disclaimers

• The University charges for parking spaces.

• The University does not guarantee parking.

• The University is not responsible for vehicle and property damage and personal injuries.

• University parking is a privilege. Failure to comply with rules and regulations may result in a citation or suspension and cancellation of parking privilege.

• Failure to pay fines within 30 days of citation may result in withholding of automobile registration by the Motor Vehicle Administration.

Rules

Section I – Motor Vehicle Registration and Payment for Parking

1. Students, faculty, and staff, who use University parking facilities, must register vehicles, including state-owned or leased vehicles, with the Office of Parking and Transportation Services (PTS). To do so, you will need a University ID and state vehicle registration card.

2. Registered vehicles must display a parking permit. An improperly displayed permit is subject to citation and penalties.

3. Student fees are collected on a semester or annual basis. Faculty and staff fees are paid via bi-weekly payroll deductions. To terminate payroll deductions, PTS requires two weeks’ notice. Notice must be in writing.

4. If a parking permit is not returned to PTS at the end of that two-week period, parking fees will continue to be deducted. Or, if the parker is leaving the University, the parker's final check will be withheld until the parking permit has been returned. 

5. Parking fees are nonrefundable except when a permit is canceled due to space shortage or reassignment. Fees may be reduced or rebated. Such cases will be evaluated by PTS.

6. The University reserves the right to reassign parkers to other areas upon reasonable notice and to cancel parking privileges due to unavailability of spaces. At least two weeks' notice of such changes will be given except in emergency situations.

7. Changes in parking fees will be recommended to the Board of Regents by the Office of the President. When approved by the board, changed fees will be put into effect. Generally, fees will be subject to increase only at the beginning of academic semesters. PTS will notify parkers prior to increasing parking fees.

Section II – Garage and Parking Lot Assignments

Students, faculty, and staff, who are assigned to garage parking spaces, will be issued permits valid for a specific garage. Garage and assigned lot parkers are guaranteed parking spaces and should contact PTS if they are unable to find a parking space in their assigned garage or lot. In the meantime, the garage attendant will direct the parker to an alternate facility.

Unassigned daily parkers are provided parking spaces on a first-come, first-served basis. If a parking space is unavailable, daily parkers may seek on-street or commercial lot parking. 

Section III – Rules and Regulations for Parking

1. Vehicle owners are responsible for any parking violations involving their vehicles. Drivers of Department of State-owned or State-leased vehicles are responsible for any parking violations.

2. Sale or distribution of parking permits to unauthorized parkers will result in permanent revocation of parking privileges for both parties involved, and each offender will be assessed a $50 fine and may be subject to criminal prosecution.

3. Parkers must obey all parking control signs and devices.

4. A parking permit may not be displayed on any vehicle other than the one for which it was originally issued. The permit is invalid if altered or defaced so that the color and number on the permit cannot be easily determined. The hanging permit may be used on more than one vehicle, but all vehicles using the permit must be registered with PTS.

5. Motorcycles and motor scooters must be parked in designated areas, be properly registered, and display an appropriate sticker.

6. The University garages and lots are not storage facilities for registered vehicles. The registrant of any vehicle parked for more than 10 days in a University garage or lot without being moved will be subject to revocation of the parking permit unless prior arrangements have been made with PTS. Upon notification, the owner has 10 days to move the vehicle or risk having the parking permit revoked. Once the parking permit has been revoked, the vehicle will be subject to monetary penalties and may be deemed "abandoned."

7. Any vehicle deemed "abandoned" will be issued a parking citation. An abandoned vehicle is defined as any motor vehicle parked for more than three days that is inoperable, does not display current, valid state registration plates, or does not possess a current, valid University parking permit. PTS will notify the registrant of the parking citation and the possibility of towing. The vehicle will be towed as an illegally parked vehicle if the car is not moved or PTS is not contacted by the owner or registrant and advised of other arrangements for removing the vehicle within 10 days after notification.

8. Specific parking violations include monetary penalties imposed by the University.

 *Tow-away zone

9. The University will authorize towing and impounding vehicles in violation of the following:

• Three or more unsatisfied citations

• Parking in a fire lane or blocking a fire hydrant

• Parking in a "no stopping" or "no standing" zone

• Parking in any zone designated for parking or transit of emergency vehicles

• Parking that obstructs the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic

• Abandonment of vehicles

The University will not give notice of towing except with abandoned vehicles. The University is not responsible for any vehicle damage as a result of towing. To recover the vehicle, the owner must pay associated towing, storage, or impounding fees. The owner may request a refund of fees if the towing resulted from a parking citation, which was later reversed.

9. Parking is prohibited on grass plots, tree plots, construction areas, and when parking obstructs the landscaping of the campus, creates a safety hazard, interferes with the use of University facilities, and hinders the free movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Any area of campus closed by the use of barricades or other traffic control devices is not available for parking. Parking is prohibited in areas within garages that are not specifically designated as parking spaces.

Parking Violations Program

Section I – Parking Violation Citations

1. The University Police Officers and/or other persons specifically designated by the Department of Public Safety will issue parking citations. The violation(s) charged, the date of occurrence, and instructions for payment and appeals will be noted on the citation.

2. Parking violation payments should be submitted to University Cashier, 601 W. Lombard St., second floor, Baltimore, MD 21201, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Checks must be made payable to the University of Maryland.

3. If payment is not made within 30 days, $5 will be added to the penalty for each month or fraction that the penalty is overdue. The period for payment of a penalty will be extended if a trial is requested.

4. If a check received in payment of a parking penalty is dishonored, an additional charge of $15 may be assessed.

5. If a parking violation penalty is more than 30 days overdue, the University will take any number of the following actions:

• Students: parking privileges may be suspended, registration for the next semester may be denied, and/or diplomas and transcripts may be withheld

• Faculty and Staff: parking privileges may be suspended and/or paychecks may be withheld

• Notification may be sent to the Motor Vehicle Administration, and registration of the automobile may be withheld

6. If a registrant incurs three or more parking citations, parking privileges will be suspended for a period not to exceed six months. If a registrant again incurs three or more violations within a six-month period, parking privileges will be permanently cancelled.

Section II – Appeals

To request a trial, the form on the reverse side of the citation must be filled out and either brought in person or mailed (registered or certified) to the University of Maryland, Financial Services, Saratoga Garage and offices, 220 Arch St., office level two, Baltimore, Md. 21201. The District Court of Maryland will send a notification of the trial date.

A request for trial must be made within 25 days of receiving the parking citation or the right to trial is forfeited. All parking hearings/appeals will be processed in the District Court of Maryland.