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GOVERNANCE

Office of Parking and Transportation (P&T).
This office is responsible for all administrative functions relating to the issuance of parking permits/permissions, the collection of administrative enforcement charges for university parking and traffic administrative violations, the acceptance of appeals from such violations, the processing of refund requests upon withdrawal from the university, and for the operation of all parking lots and garages. P&T also supervises the parking enforcement assistants who issue parking citations as outlined in these regulations. Questions relating to these functions should be directed to Office of Parking and Transportation, 820 Bowers Blvd. The normal administrative operating hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., however, these hours are subject to change.

The ¸£Àû¼§ Police Department (¸£Àû¼§PD).
¸£Àû¼§PD may enforce regulations at any time or under any circumstances deemed necessary. ¸£Àû¼§PD has legal authority for the enforcement of these Parking and Traffic Regulations. ¸£Àû¼§PD police officers may issue university citations or court appearance citations enforceable in the appropriate state or municipal court (Section 31.1.6 Enforcement, Sanctions and Appeals Process). On special occasions and during emergencies, parking limitations may be imposed by ¸£Àû¼§ Director of Public Safety Services/Chief of Police or waived at his discretion due to prevailing conditions.

Methods and Devices

The University may enforce these parking and traffic regulations using the following means:

• Through the issuance of university citations and the collection of administrative enforcement charges for offenses.
• Through the impoundment or booting of vehicles interfering with the movement of vehicular, bicycle, or pedestrian traffic; blocking a space for those with disabilities, loading dock, ramp, crosswalk, entrance, exit, fire lane, or aisle; and/or with unpaid charges after proper notice as provided by these regulations.
• By the suspension, revocation, or denial of campus driving, permit, and garage access privileges to those with overdue charges or who have violated stipulations of these regulations.
• By requiring either the vehicle owner/operator or the person who purchased the permit to appear in the appropriate state or municipal court or at a university hearing for non-payment of outstanding charges.
• By barring re-admission and by withholding grades, degree, refunds, and official transcript of any student for non-payment of outstanding charges.
• By disciplinary action against employees or students who fail to abide by these regulations.
• Through ¸£Àû¼§PD, by the issuance of court appearance citations requiring an appearance in the appropriate state or municipal court. A violation of the university parking and traffic regulation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $200.
• By such other methods as are commonly employed by city governments or state agencies in control of parking and traffic regulation enforcement.

Evidence.
The issuance of a citation reflecting the fact that any parking or traffic control device, sign, parking meter, signal, or marking was actually in place at any location on campuses of ¸£Àû¼§ shall constitute prima facie evidence that the same is official and was installed under the authority of applicable law and these regulations. Evidence that a motor vehicle was found having stopped, parked, or left standing in violation of these regulations is prima facie evidence that the vehicle was parked by:

• The person holding a university parking permit for the vehicle.
• If no university parking permit has been issued for the vehicle and the vehicle is not registered with the university, the person whose name it is registered with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or the corresponding agency of another state or nation and/or,
• A son, daughter, spouse, or ward of the registered owner is such person who is employed with or enrolled in the university at the time of the violation.
• The absence of sufficient parking spaces on the university campus is not justification for violation of these regulations. Failure to enforce any regulation shall not constitute a waiver of the university’s authority to enforce these regulations. Other improperly parked vehicles do not constitute an excuse for improper parking.

Collection Methods.
Failure to pay debts within the required time frame can result in the university arranging for the collection of fees assessed against faculty, staff, students, and visitors in the following manner:

• Parking citation debts will be invoiced to the permit holder, registered owner of the vehicle or the individual’s university affiliate that are responsible for the citation.
• A financial or non-financial bar will be placed against students for past due debts.
• ¸£Àû¼§ may elect to use the services of a commercial collection agency or attorney to collect outstanding fees for permits and citations. If a debt is referred to an agency or attorney, the offender will be responsible for paying all costs of collection, including any agency fees and/or reasonable attorney fees, which will be added to the total amount due. Additionally, a late fee may be added to the outstanding fees.
• No parking permit or permission will be issued to any individual who has P&T outstanding debts.
• When the Vice President for Student Affairs determines the civil penalties validly imposed for violation of these regulations cannot, or will not, be
• collected through normal administrative procedures, they may bring a civil action against the offender in the name of the university for the recovery of the penalty.

RESPONSIBILITY

• The person to whom a university parking permit or permission is issued is responsible for any citation issued with respect to a car displaying that permit or a vehicle registered through P&T by that person.
• If the vehicle is not registered through P&T to any university-affiliated party, then the person to whom the vehicle is registered through the Texas Department of Transportation or other state agencies at the time of issuance of the citation and that individual’s university affiliate (faculty, staff or student) are responsible for the citation.

Liability.
¸£Àû¼§ assumes no liability or responsibility for damage to, or theft of, any vehicle parked or driven on campus. The university assumes no responsibility or any duty to protect any vehicle or its contents at any time the vehicle is operated or parked on the campus. The provisions of this regulation shall apply to all operators of all vehicles, public and private, and they shall be enforced 24 hours a day except as otherwise specified by these regulations. It shall be prohibited for any operator to violate any of the provisions of these regulations.

Vehicle Sale or Transfer of Ownership.
If the owner of a vehicle has sold or transferred the vehicle to a new party, the owner must contact the county tax office or regional office and fill out the Motor Vehicle Transfer Notification Form (VTR-346). Upon receipt of the form and fee, the Department of Motor Vehicles records will be updated to reflect the transfer/sale of the vehicle. Upon receipt of proof of this transfer, P&T will release the owner from liability of any citations issued to the vehicle after the sales date.