VI-9.00(A)

UMB Policy on Establishment of Institutional Traffic Regulations

Administration   |   Approved November 21, 2016

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Responsible VP/AVP

Dawn M. Rhodes, DBA, MBA

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Revision History

Revised November 21, 2016.

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Purpose

The UMB Office of Public Safety enforces state and other local ordinances pertaining to motor vehicles. The UMB Office of Parking and Transportation Services is responsible for establishing rules and regulations concerning parking.

Policy Statement

Purpose

The UMB Office of Public Safety enforces state and other local ordinances pertaining to motor vehicles. The UMB Office of Parking and Transportation Services is responsible for establishing rules and regulations concerning parking.

Rules & Regulations

The University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) strives to provide adequate parking for its employees, students and visitors.

UMB, in its attempt to provide a sufficient number of parking spaces for the campus community, must charge fees for use of its parking spaces in order to pay for operation and maintenance of campus parking facilities. Due to the size of UMB staff and student bodies, it cannot guarantee parking to all students and staff willing and able to pay for spaces. For those community members who are able to park on campus, UMB provides for (but cannot guarantee the safety and security of) vehicles, property, and persons within UMB parking facilities.

The use of UMB parking facilities is a privilege conferred by UMB in exchange for a parker’s payment of required fees and agreement to comply with UMB rules and regulations concerning parking. UMB may cancel or suspend any parker’s privilege when any of these conditions are not observed.

Policy Statement

Section I – Motor Vehicle Registration and Payment for Parking

1. Any person affiliated with UMB as faculty, staff, student, or contractor who desires to park a vehicle on a University parking lot or in a University garage must register that vehicle with PTS. If available, an appropriate parking permit will be issued by PTS.
2. A vehicle must be registered in the name of its operator. The registrant’s One Card must be presented to register the vehicle.
3. All state-owned or state-leased vehicles to be parked at UMB must also be registered; display valid parking permits; and pay the parking fee.
4.  No vehicle may be parked on campus unless the parking permit for the vehicle is affixed to the vehicle as specified on the permit or in instructions given to the parker along with the permit. A permit which is displayed improperly is void and will be subject to citation and penalties.
5. Fees for assigned parking for students in UMB housing will be collected on a semester or annual basis, at the student’s option.
6. Faculty and staff fees for assigned parking will be paid by bi-weekly payroll deductions. Deduction of staff fees will terminate upon return of permit/access card to PTS Cashiers Office at the SMC Campus Center, 621 W. Lombard St., Lower Level, Room 002D. 
7. If a parking permit/access card is not returned to the Cashiers Office, Parking fees will continue to be charged until the parking permit/access card has been returned to PTS.
8. Parking fees are nonrefundable, except in cases that will be evaluated individually by PTS.
9. UMB reserves the rights to, at any time, reassign parkers to other areas upon reasonable notice and to cancel parking privileges due to unavailability of spaces. UMB will endeavor to give at least two weeks’ notice of such changes, except in emergency situations.
10. Changes in parking fees will be recommended to the Board of Regents by the President. When approved by the Board of Regents, changed fees will be put into effect. PTS will endeavor to give advance notification to the parking community prior to increasing parking fees.

Section II – Garage and Parking Lot Assignments

1. Students, faculty, and staff who are assigned to parking garages will be issued permits valid for their specific garage. Garage and assigned lot parkers should contact the PTS if they are unable to find a parking space in their assigned garage or lot. If a garage parker is unable to find a parking space in the assigned facility, the garage attendant will, if possible, direct the parker to an alternate facility where space is available. When an attendant becomes aware that a garage is full, incoming traffic will, when possible, be diverted to alternate facilities until spaces become available. Parkers diverted to alternate facilities by PTS are not subject to parking violations associated with parking in unassigned garages.
2. Persons who are registered to park as daily parkers will be provided parking spaces on a first-come, first-served basis. Possession of a daily parking permit does not guarantee a parking space. If a parking space is unavailable in the assigned garage, a holder of a daily parking lot permit must seek on-street or commercial parking lot space. Daily parkers cannot use other University parking if they are unable to find space.  
3. Anyone who parks in a garage besides the assigned garage prior to 4 p.m. on weekdays will be considered a visitor and will be required to pay visitor rates.

Section III – Rules and Regulations for Parking

1. The registrant of a vehicle is responsible to UMB for all parking violations involving the vehicle, regardless of whether or not the vehicle was being operated by another person at the time of the violation or was parked by another person.
2. The driver or the department using a state-owned or state-leased car will be responsible for parking violations involving that car.
3. Sale or distribution of parking permits to unauthorized parkers will result in permanent revocation of parking privileges for both parties involved. Each offender will be assessed a $50 fine, and may be subject to criminal prosecution.
4. All parking control signs and devices must be obeyed by parkers.
5. A parking permit may not be displayed on any vehicle other than the one(s) for which it was 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; however all vehicles using the permit must be registered with the PTS.
6. Motorcycles and motor scooters must be parked in areas designated for such vehicles, and must be properly registered and display an appropriate permit.
7. 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. PTS will notify the registrant through campus mail (to the registrant’s campus address) and first class mail (to the registrant’s home address) of the possible parking permit revocation. The parking permit will be revoked 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. Once the parking permit has been revoked, the vehicle will be subject to monetary penalties and may be deemed “abandoned.”
8. Any vehicle deemed to be “abandoned” will be issued a parking citation. An abandoned vehicle is defined as any motor vehicle, parked for more than three days that (1) is inoperable, (2) does not display current, valid state registration plates, (3) does not possess a current, valid University parking permit, or (4) is subject to the preceding paragraph. PTS will notify the registrant through campus mail (to registrant’s campus address) and first class mail (to the registrant’s home address) 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.

Section IV - Parking Violations

Part 1 - Penalties

1. Under authority given to UMB by state law, a parking citations program has been instituted. Failure to comply with parking rules will result in issuance of parking citations, which require payment of specified monetary penalties. Failure to make payments as required by the citations or repeated violations of parking rules and regulations will result in suspension or revocation of parking privileges.

2. Specific parking violations for which monetary penalties are imposed by the University and the penalty for each such violation are listed below:

Parking Violation	Fine
Sale, purchase, or distribution of a parking permit by unauthorized persons	$50
Abandoned vehicle	$152
No stopping or standing/ Parking / Cruising	$52
Obstructing or impeding free flow of traffic	$77
Obstructing or impeding movement of pedestrians	$52
Fire Lane/Fire Hydrant	$52
Handicapped	$202
Parking permit or meter violation	$23
Tow-away zone	$42
Backing in where there is a "head-in parking only sign"	$27
All other stopping or parking violations such as reserved space or area and hindering access to adjacent space	$27

3. In addition to the monetary penalties listed in the preceding section, UMB will authorize towing and impoundment of vehicles in the following circumstances:
   • Vehicles having three or more unsatisfied citations. Vehicles will not be released until all fines and charges are paid.
   • Parking in a fire lane or blocking a fire hydrant.
   • Parking in a "no stopping", "no standing" zone, or in a reserved space or area.
   • Parking in any zone designated for parking or transit of emergency vehicles.
   • Parking in such a way that the free flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic in the campus area is obstructed or impeded.
   • Abandonment of vehicles.
4. UMB will give no prior notices of towing, except in the case of abandoned vehicles.
5. As a condition of receiving parking privileges on UMB campus, the registrant and the vehicle owner agree that UMB will not be held responsible for any damage to any vehicle as a result of its being towed by UMB. Any associated towing, storage, or impounding fees must be paid by the registrant or owner of the vehicle in order to recover the car. If the towing was done in connection with issuance of a parking citation which is later reversed, any towing, storage, or impounding fees will be refunded to the registrant or parker upon presentation of satisfactory proof to the PTS that such fees have been paid.
6. Even if there are no signs, parking is prohibited on grass plots, tree plots, construction areas, or where parking will mar the landscaping of the campus, create a safety hazard, interfere with the use of UMB facilities, or hinder the free movement of pedestrian or vehicular traffic. Any area of UMB campus which has been closed by the use of barricades or other traffic control devices is not available for parking.
7. In order to avoid parking violations, registered parkers should use only garages and lots to which they are assigned, except after 4 p.m. Monday – Friday and weekends up to 9 a.m. on Monday. Parking is prohibited in areas within the garages that are not specifically designated as parking spaces by striping on the surface, signs, or other devices.

Part 2 – Parking Violation Citations

1. UMB Police and/or other persons specifically designated by the Chief of Police will issue parking citations to the registrants of vehicles parked in violation of these rules. Citations will be left on the vehicle. The violation(s) charged and the date of occurrence will be noted on each citation. Instructions for payment of parking violation penalties and appeal of parking citations will be printed on the citations.
2. All penalties for parking violations are to be paid at the University Cashiers Office, 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. Penalties are due immediately. If the payment is not made within 30 days, an additional penalty of $5 will be added to the penalty for each month or fraction thereof 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, UMB may take any or all of the following actions to collect the penalty:
   • Students: Until all penalties are paid, parking privileges may be suspended, registration for the next semester may be denied, and diplomas and transcripts may be withheld.
   • Faculty and Staff: Until all penalties are paid, parking privileges may be suspended.
   • Students, Faculty, Staff, and all others: Notification may be sent to the Motor Vehicle Administration and registration of the automobile may be withheld.
6. Parking privileges may be suspended for a period not to exceed six months if a registrant incurs three or more parking citations. If a registrant again incurs three or more violations within a six-month period, parking privileges may be permanently canceled.

Part 3 – Appeals

1. All parking hearings/appeals will be processed in the District Court of Maryland.
2. 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 Cashiers Office, 601 W. Lombard St., Second floor, Baltimore, MD 21201
3. A request for trial must be made within 25 days of the issuance of the parking citation or the right to trial is forfeited. The District Court of Maryland will send a notification of the trial date directly to the parker.