Parking Rules and Regulations

EFFECTIVE ACADEMIC YEAR 2009

FALL 2008, SPRING 2009, & SUMMER SESSIONS 2009

GENERAL INFORMATION

The control of motor vehicle traffic on campus is a necessary part of the efficient operation of the University. During business hours certain areas are restricted to those vehicles necessary to University business. The purpose of these regulations is to facilitate the safe and orderly conduct of the University business and to provide parking facilities in support of this function within the limits of available space. The polices and regulations contained herein are given the effect of Law by Senate Bill 162, Section 2, 60th Legislature, 1967, and are applicable to all members of the University community-faculty, students and staff.

In these regulations the term campus is interpreted to include all property under the jurisdiction of SHSU. The term vehicle or motor vehicle is interpreted to include automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, motor bikes, motor scooters, and any vehicle that is self-propelled.
In these regulations persons are informed where they can park rather than list every place where it is improper to park. Faculty, staff, and students are required to park in assigned areas only, according to color zone designated . Parking is restricted to legally marked spaces between two white lines .

The University will make every effort to render protection to vehicles parked on campus, but cannot assume the responsibility for any damages or losses.

In the event of conflict between traffic signs or markings and printed regulations, the signs or markings shall be followed. All yellow curbs, yellow wheel stops, and yellow stripes denote a "No Parking Zone". Red curbs, red wheel stops and red stripes denote a "Fire Zone" and "No Parking at Any Time".

The University reserves the right to impound or have impounded any vehicle which is parked in a manner dangerous to vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or in flagrant violation of University parking regulations. The vehicle owner shall bear all costs involved in such vehicle removal.

The university considers the use of a vehicle on campus a privilege and convenience, and is not obligated to furnish unlimited parking space to accommodate all vehicles. However, the university will attempt to provide a reasonable number of parking spaces in keeping with available resources.

VEHICLE REGISTRATION

All SHSU faculty, staff, and students and other governmental employees, full or part time, who operate or expect to operate a vehicle on University property, regularly or occasionally, are required to register the vehicle with the Parking Management Office, University Police, and obtain a parking decal/hangtag assigning a designated color area for parking. The university reserves the right to require proof of ownership of the vehicle being registered. Any person who wishes to register a vehicle other than one of which the title is in their name must have approval from Director of Public Safety Services.

Parking permits are required 24 hours a day.
Students may register their vehicles during the regular registration periods. At all other times student vehicles may be registered at the Parking Management Office, University Police Department, located at 2424 Sam Houston Avenue in the Sam South Complex. Faculty and staff are required to register their vehicles online thru SamWeb or at the Parking Management Office, University Police Department. Office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Arrangements may be made to pick up a parking permit after 4:30 p.m. by calling the Parking Management Office at 936/294-1789, 294-1790, and/or 294-1795..
Fees for Vehicle Registration:
The vehicle registration fee is payable only once during the academic year and is in effect from the date paid to the end of the academic year. There will be no refund made on the vehicle registration fee.
- Students (Parking Decals)
  - Fall Registration (August to August) ..........$60.00
  - Spring Registration (January to August)....$50.00
  - Summer I Registration (May to August).....$40.00
  - Summer II Registration (July to August)....$35.00
- Faculty/Staff (Hangtags & Decals)
  - Fall Registration (August to August)..........$75.00
  - Spring Registration (January to August)...$50.00
  - Summer I Registration (May to August).....$40.00
  - Summer II Registration (July to August)....$35.00
- Reserved Spaces-Administrators (Hangtags)
  - Fall Registration (August to August)...........$100.00
  - Spring Registration (January to August)......$85.00
  - Summer I Registration (May to August).......$50.00
  - Summer II Registration (July to August).......$50.00
- Orange Permits (Parking Decals)
  - Fall Registration (August to August)............$25.00
  - Spring Registration (January to August).....$20.00
  - Summer I Registration (May to August).......$10.00
  - Summer II Registration (July to August)......$10.00
Commuting students may register a second motor vehicle; however, they may be required to provide proof of ownership. When you register two vehicles you must agree that only one of the vehicles will be on campus at a time. Breach of this agreement will be reason to suspend the second permit. Students residing in university residence halls are not permitted to register a second vehicle. Faculty & staff are permitted to purchase only one hangtag/decal.
- Second Permit for Commuting Students:
  - Fall Registration (August to August)...........$35.00
  - Spring Registration (January to August).....$30.00
  - Summer I Registration (May to August)......$25.00
  - Summer II Registration (July to August)......$20.00
The university reserves the right to remove and impound any abandoned motor vehicle or any vehicle found on its property without a SHSU parking permit, or without valid registration tags.
Brown Permits-Brown permits for the physically challenged must be obtained from the Parking Management Office..

REQUIRED DISPLAY OF DECAL

Current decals must be properly displayed on motor vehicles on the day classes begin.
The decal must be permanently affixed (not taped) on the inside, lower right corner (passenger side) of the front windshield. Hangtags must be hung from the rearview mirror and the front of the hangtag must be visible to be valid. Operators of motorcycles are required to register their vehicle with the Parking Management Office and pay a parking fee.
Should a decal or hangtag become mutilated or obliterated in any way, a replacement must be obtained from the Parking Management Office. When the remnants of a decal/hangtag are presented, a duplicate will be provided free of charge. If a decal/hangtag is lost or stolen, a replacement will be provided at the current semester rate. There are no free replacements for lost or stolen decals/hangtags.
If a student must register a different vehicle, a replacement decal will be provided fee of charge, if the remnants of the old decal are presented to the Parking Management Office.
If a vehicle other than the one originally registered is to be operated on campus, a temporary permit must be obtained at the Parking Management Office. Temporary permits are valid for one week.
Students, faculty and staff who do not have a vehicle registered with the Parking Management Office, but need to operate a vehicle on campus for a short period of time, may purchase a temporary permit for the cost of $3.00 per day.

PARKING AREA REGULATIONS

All university parking facilities are marked according to color zone areas. Operators must adhere to these designations except as noted below:

Unless otherwise posted, blue and green permits are permitted to park in white (Faculty/Staff) parking zones between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m. Blue permits are permitted to park in green zones between 5:00 p.m. and 7:30 a.m., weekdays. Blue zones are restricted to blue permits 24 hours a day. Individual reserved parking spaces and timed parking spaces are restricted 24 hours a day.
Faculty and Staff are permitted to park in white, blue, green or orange zones.
Commuting students and off-campus residents shall park in green zones or orange zones.
Students residing in following residence halls shall park in blue or orange zones.
- Adams House, Allen House, Alpha Chi Omega House, Alpha Delta Pi House, Anne Shaver House, Baldwin House, Barrett House, Bearkat Village, Belvin/Buchanan Hall, Crawford House, Creager House, Elliott Hall, Estill Hall, Gibbs House, Houston House, Jackson/Shaver Hall, King Hall, Lawrence House, Mallon House, Mitchell House, Parkhill House, Rachel Jackson House, Randel House, Raven Village, Sam Houston Village, Sigma Sigma Sigma House, Spivey House, Vick House, White Hall, & Zeta Tau Alpha House.
Orange permits may be purchased at a reduced cost and are only valid in orange zones consisting of the Bowers Stadium Lot, Sam South Complex and the Vending/Agriculture Mechanical Complex. Orange permits may not park in white, blue or green zones.
Physically challenged students, faculty and staff who possess a State of Texas handicap placard or handicap registration tags are required to register their vehicle with the Parking Management Office. A brown permit will be issued entitling them to park in designated handicap areas. Special permits are available to students who must park close due to a temporary injury or illness. Requests for special permits must be made to the Parking Management Office. Special permits are not allowed to park in any area designated for the physically challenged (handicapped).
All University streets have a speed limit of 20 miles per hour. Parking lots are limited to 10 miles per hour for motor vehicles.
Motorcycles must be parked in the prescribed area specifically designated for parking such vehicles, or in a legally marked space within their color zone. It is unlawful for the owner, or any other person, to ride or otherwise use a motorcycle, motor bike, or motor scooter on any pathway, sidewalk, mall area or handicap ramp. Bicycles must be parked in the bicycle parking racks. Every person operating a motorcycle, motor bike, motor scooter or bicycle must give the pedestrian the right-of-way at all times, keep to the right of the roadway and obey all traffic signals. There is no fee for operation of bicycles on the SHSU campus.
Reserved visitor parking spaces are restricted to vehicles displaying visitor parking permits issued through the Parking Management Office or Visitor Center. The term "visitor" is interpreted to mean an individual with no official connections with Sam Houston State University.
The responsibility for finding a legal parking space rests with the motor vehicle operator. Lack of space is not considered a valid excuse for vioilating the Parking and Traffic Regulations.

RESOLVING CITATIONS

Parking Citations (Parked in No Parking Zone, Unauthorized Color Zone, Across Marker Lines, or Parking Where Prohibited). Fees are determined by the number of citations (Parking or Other) incurred each semester.
1. First Citation................................$30.00
2. Second Citation..........................$35.00
3. Third Citation...............................$40.00
4. Fourth/Subsequent Citations...$50.00
Other Citations:
1. Improper Display of Parking Decal........$30.00
2. Failure to Register Vehicle and/or Display Decal........$40.00
3. Falsifying information on application for parking decal or using a falsely made, altered or purchased decal..........$100.00
4. Parked in a Faculty Zone.............$40.00
5. Parked in a Fire Zone...................$50.00
6. Parked in a Handicapped Zone...........$100.00
Moving Violations -- All vehicles driven on SHSU property or under its jurisdiction are subject to all university traffic regulations and the State of Texas Motor Vehicle Laws. All moving violations will be adjudicated in Walker County Justice Courts or the City of Huntsville Municipal Court.
Resale of parking decals/hangtags is prohibited and will be considered as a falsely purchased decal and/or hangtag.

VIOLATORS' OBLIGATION AND APPEAL PROCEDURE

Citations for the university parking violations may be paid at the Cashier's Office or online thru SamWeb.
University parking citations are subject to appeal and appeals must be filed within three (3) class days after the issuance of the citation. All appeals must be on the official appeal form secured from the Parking Management Office. The Dean of Students' Office will set the date, time, and place for appeals.
All citations appealed shall be adjudicated through the University's Parking Appeals Committee. The Parking Appeals Committee shall be compromised of a pool of students, faculty, and staff appointed by the President. Any two or three members of the pool will constitute an appropriate hearing committee. The Parking Appeals Committee shall hear all appeals filed by faculty, staff, and students. Decisions of the Parking Appeals Committee are final and are not subject to further appeal.
Students who fail to resolve parking citations are subject to disciplinary action.
Any person receiving five (5) or more unresolved parking citations within any semester shall be considered to be in flagrant violation of the university parking regulations and their vehicle is subject to impoundment as set forth under Section I. Students' records and transcripts may be tagged and held for failure to resolve their parking citations. Students having unresolved parking citations may be denied registration for classes the following semester.
Disabled vehicles should be reported immediately to the University Police Department.

FUNDS FROM VEHICLE REGISTRATION

Since the State of Texas does not provide for parking facilities, monies collected form motor vehicle operation will be applied to the operation of the Department of Public Safety Services, the improvement of existing facilities, additional parking and traffic facilities, and other uses for the university.

REGULATIONS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

The University reserves the right to change any or all parts of these regulations as necessary. All changes will be published on the university's website.

UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

The University Police Department can be contacted 24 hours a day at the following numbers: 936/294-1794 or Campus Extension 4-1794.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH V.A.C.S. - 2939J enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas, April 27, 1967, the governing board of Sam Houston State University is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations for the safety and welfare of students, employees, and property. In addition to University regulations, all of the general and criminal laws of the State of Texas are declared to be in full force and effect within the areas under the jurisdiction of Sam Houston State University, and all persons are responsible for compliance with these laws.
1. The governing board of Sam Houston State University is authorized to employ campus police personnel for the purpose of carrying out the provision of V.A.C.S.-2929J, and has commissioned such officers as peace officers vested with all the powers, privileges, and immunities of peace officers in the performance of their duties.
2. It shall be unlawful for any person to trespass upon the grounds of Sam Houston State University, or to damage or deface any of the buildings, trees, shrubs, grasses, or flowers on the grounds.
3. The University Police shall be vested with the authority to refuse to allow persons having no legitimate business to enter upon any property under the control and jurisdiction of Sam Houston State University, and to eject any unauthorized persons from said property upon their refusal to leave peaceably upon request.
4. AUTHORITY IS GIVEN TO THE SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REQUIRE IDENTIFICATION OF ANY PERSON UPON THE PROPERTY OF THE UNIVERSITY. FAILURE TO PRODUCE IDENTIFICATION UPON REQUEST OF AN OFFICER MAY RESULT IN ARREST AND APPEARANCE BEFORE A MAGISTRATE.
All thefts, accidents, or other property offenses that occur on campus should be reported to the University Police Department immediately. Accident reports should be made prior to moving vehicles. One vehicle accidents must also be reported. Keys or valuables should NOT be left in a vehicle. ALWAYS KEEP YOUR VEHICLE LOCKED.
When planning functions and activities, notify the University Police Department at least a month in advance so necessary arrangements may be made.

UNIVERSITY POLICE FUNCTIONS

In order to avoid any possible misunderstanding of the functions of the University Police in relation to its law enforcement efforts, it is recognized that Sam Houston State University Police Officers are "Peace Officers" as defined under the laws of the State of Texas.

The Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Chapter 2, Article 2.12, includes as peace officers under item (9): "officers commissioned by the governing board of any state institution of higher education."

Thus the University Police Officers are authorized by State statute to enforce Federal and State laws and/or any regulation issued by the Board of Regents of The Texas State University System, Sam Houston State University, on property under the control and jurisdiction of Sam Houston State University. Sec. 51.203, Texas Education Code; Campus Peace Officers, states "The governing boards of each state institution of higher education and public technical institute may employ and commission peace officers for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this subchapter. The primary jurisdiction of a peace officer commissioned under this section includes all counties in which property is owned, leased, rented, or otherwise under the control of the institution of higher education that employs the peace officer or otherwise in the performance of their duties."

The University Police has at its primary objective to protect all persons within its jurisdiction to be as free from criminal attack, to be secure in their properties, and to live within a peaceful community, as humanly possible. They shall perform their law enforcement functions in a professional manner and it is to this purpose that, we believe, the University Police and its jurisdiction was created by the Board of Regents of The Texas State University System with authority delegated by the State Legislators.

Thank you for your cooperation in making Sam Houston State University an enjoyable and safe community.

Kevin H. Morris, Director/Chief of Police