2011-12 Vehicle Operations Policy

Contents

1. General Rules
2. Registration of Vehicles
3. Parking Areas
4. Administration/Enforcement
   Fines
5. Appeal Procedures

1. General Rules

Campus parking and traffic regulations comply with Washington state motor vehicle laws and Spokane County ordinances. These rules apply equally to all faculty, staff, students and visitors.

1. These vehicle regulations, Washington state motor vehicle laws, and applicable Spokane County ordinances are in effect on all Whitworth properties, including all campus roads, streets, parking areas, improved and unimproved areas and athletics fields.

2. No unlicensed or improperly licensed motorized vehicle may be operated on the Whitworth campus (other than special-service/university-owned vehicles).

3. Parking is permitted only in marked parking spaces in designated parking areas. Do not park in parking spaces or lots designated for service vehicles or visitors. There are parking lots on campus in which overnight parking is not permitted; these lots are posted NO OVERNIGHT PARKING.

4. Unless marked as designated parking spaces or otherwise marked to permit parking, all roadways on campus are considered fire lanes; parking in these areas is strictly prohibited. (Curb color, or lack thereof, has no bearing on this.) Parking in a fire lane or a disabled space without a required state-issued permit will result in a citation and a $100 fine for each occurrence.

5. "No Parking" areas include fire lanes, all road and driveway curbed areas, crosswalks, loading zones, service-vehicle zones, assigned or reserved spaces, walks, planted or seeded areas,
   15-ft. spaces around fire hydrants, area around trash/garbage collection points, uncurbed areas, and posted "No Parking" and "No Overnight Parking" areas.

6. The maximum speed limit on campus is 15 m.p.h. Lower limits are in effect when posted, or if road conditions warrant.

7. Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all intersections and pedestrian crossings except in cases involving emergency vehicles.

8. Without prior approval of the security supervisor (ext. 3712), no vehicle may be left on campus for longer than 30 days while the owner/operator is absent from campus for any reason. Likewise, no disabled or inoperative vehicle shall be parked on campus for more than 72 hours. In either case, vehicles will be towed away at the expense of the owner/operators. If your vehicle becomes inoperative on campus, notify security promptly at ext. 4444.

9. Whitworth reserves the right to tow away any illegally or improperly parked vehicle at the owner/operator’s expense.

10. Spaces designated as disabled parking must be honored, and vehicles parked in these spaces must display a state-issued disabled-parking permit.

11. Motorcycles and motor scooters are considered engine-driven vehicles and may not be operated on walks intended for foot traffic.

12. If you plan on leaving your vehicle on campus when residences close for a vacation period, you must check with the Whitworth Security/Facilities Services Office (509.777.3254, 509.777.3712 or facilitiesservices@whitworth.edu) for instructions as to the proper parking area for your vehicle.

13. Individuals suspected of operating a vehicle under the influence of any drug or alcohol will be reported to local authorities.

2. Registration of Vehicles

1. Students are required to register each vehicle that will be operated or parked on campus and to display its current registration decal properly. Vehicle registration will be submitted via the online registration form; the cost is $40 per vehicle, per year. This must be done at the beginning of the fall semester for each vehicle operated on campus; if a registered owner acquires a new or different vehicle that will be operated on campus, s/he must repeat the process. New students will follow the same procedure at the beginning of their entering semester. Failure to register a vehicle or to display its current registration decal properly will result in a citation and a fine of $50. Vehicle registration is a two-part process: 1) purchasing the registration decal, and
   2) obtaining and properly attaching it to the inside lower-left corner of the windshield. After purchasing the decal online, it is the student’s responsibility to complete the process – without further notification –by picking up the decal at the HUB Information Desk and installing it promptly. If a vehicle, license plate, or windshield is replaced, please contact facilities services at 509.777.3254 to arrange for a no-cost vehicle re-registration or replacement decal. Switching decals between vehicles is not permitted.

2. Faculty/staff members are required to register their vehicles through the online registration form upon their employment at Whitworth. If a vehicle is replaced or an additional vehicle is purchased, that vehicle must also be registered in a timely manner. In the event of a replaced windshield, please contact facilities services at 509.777.3254.

3. Registration decals must be affixed to the INSIDE FRONT WINDOW -- DRIVER'S SIDE of the vehicle. Motorcycles, motor scooters, etc., without windscreens must display the decal in a conspicuous place.

4. Adjunct faculty and visitors MUST obtain a visitor’s parking permit, free of charge, at the Whitworth Facilities Services Office.

5. Unregistered vehicles that are driven on campus temporarily due to temporary loss of a registered vehicle may be issued a temporary parking permit for a limited period of time as determined by facilities services, at ext. 3254, or security, at ext. 4444.

6. GUEST/VISITOR VEHICLES:  Guests can obtain temporary parking authorization from facilities services or security.

3. Parking Areas

1. Parking on campus, due to limited space and concern for the environment, is a privilege and is permitted only in marked parking spaces in designated areas.

2. Areas immediately adjacent to some buildings and marked as such by signs are reserved for service and delivery vehicles only. All other vehicles parked in these areas may be cited and/or towed at owner/operator’s expense.

3. Some parking spaces are marked “Visitors.”  These spaces are to be used by visitors only. All other vehicles parked in these areas are subject to citations and/or towing at owner/operator’s expense.

4. Parking on streets – in fire lanes – is not permitted.

5. Parking is prohibited within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.

6. VACATIONS:  Vehicles left on campus when the residence halls are closed for Christmas Vacation or Spring Break are to be parked in the Baldwin-Jenkins rear parking lot or the parking lot north of Westminster Hall, unless owners are directed otherwise. During these breaks, campus parking lots are cleaned. If a student’s vehicle is not parked in one of the two above-listed parking lots, it may be towed to an alternate parking lot at the owner/operator’s expense.

4. Administration/Enforcement

1. The director of facilities services is responsible to do the following:
   1. Review the administration and enforcement of these regulations.
   2. Recommend revisions of the campus traffic and parking regulations.

2. The security department, under the director’s supervision, shall do the following:
   1. Administer and enforce the campus traffic and parking regulations.
   2. Supervise the installation of traffic signs.
   3. Maintain a registration record system.
   4. Issue permits and citations.
   5. Patrol the university campus.
   6. Keep records of violations and fines.
   7. Provide for appeals.

3. Persons observed violating traffic regulations, as well as vehicles found parked illegally, will be cited.
   
   NOTICE: Vehicles parked in fire lanes or other areas where the location threatens the safety of the campus community will be towed.  Vehicles whose owners/operators receive multiple citations without acknowledging and responding as instructed may also be towed. A vehicle may be towed off campus at the expense of the registered owner.
   
   
4. Fines
   
   1.  Fines will be billed to the individual’s account.
   
   2. Types and amounts:
   
   a) Citations issued for failure to register any vehicle or properly display its current registration decal will be charged at $50.
   
   b)  General parking violations are subject to a charge
   of $30.
   
   c)  Citations for moving violations such as speeding, failure to stop for a stop sign, right-of-way violations and operating a vehicle in a reckless/negligent manner will be charged at $40 for each violation.
   
   d)  Citations for parking in fire lanes and disabled spaces will be charged at $100; vehicles in violation will be subject to immediate towing at the owner/operator's expense.
   
   

5. Appeal Procedures

The president of Whitworth has authorized the facilities services department to provide processing for the appeals of all citations and requests for the release of impounded vehicles. This procedure assures an impartial evaluation of circumstances relating to the appeal and assists in appraisal of parking and traffic problems. The appeal procedure is as follows:

A. Vehicles must be registered for appeals to be considered.

B. The initial appeal must be made within 15 days of the violation(s).

C. The appellant must submit an electronic citation appeal.

D. After the review has been completed, the appellant will be notified as to the outcome of the appeal.

E. These rules and regulations are designed to promote safety and mobility and not to generate revenue. Administration of the regulations will be courteous and equitable at all times.

Whitworth reserves the right to revoke driving and parking privileges when abuse of these privileges has occurred. Repeat offenders’ vehicles or unauthorized vehicles are subject to towing or to be impounded at the expense of the owner/operator. Please read the Vehicle Operations Policy carefully. If you have any questions, please contact Whitworth Facilities Services at 509.777.5254 or Whitworth Security at 509.777.3712, or ext. 4444 (24/7).

*Information included in this operations policy is subject to change.



Return to Whitworth Facilities Services Page