Parking and Traffic Regulations

Students, faculty, staff and contract employees who own, possess, or operate a vehicle on campus property are responsible for knowing the vehicle parking and traffic policies. With rare exceptions, parking violations are imposed against the vehicle rather than against the operator, and the owner of the vehicle in violation is responsible for payment of the fines. Moving violations are imposed against the operator of the vehicle at the time of the violation. Parking and traffic policies are enforced 24 hours per day throughout the year.

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) wants all students and employees to know that vehicle registration is required for anyone parking a vehicle on campus. Providing the information is important as it provides Public Safety pertinent contact information should a vehicle be involved in an incident—i.e., a vehicle is broken into, someone hits the vehicle, or the vehicle needs to be moved for maintenance issues. The campus registration information enables DPS officers to quickly contact the owner.

A. Rules and regulations

1. All vehicles must be registered with the Department of Public Safety within the first two days of the date the vehicle is brought to campus. Employees need to register their vehicle at the start of employment. To register a vehicle, use the form at this link.
2. Student vehicles must be registered each academic year, including off-campus housed students & exempt students. The registration fee is $125.00 per academic year. Non-registered vehicles are subject to a $75.00 fine for each ticket, and are subject to immobilization (boot) and/or towing. Students temporarily bringing a vehicle to campus (one week or less) need to obtain a temporary parking pass at Public Safety to avoid a ticket.
3. Employee parking hang-tags must be displayed on the rear view mirror at all times. Student parking stickers must be displayed on the left-hand-side of the vehicles rear window (convertible vehicles may display the sticker in the left front windshield) whenever the vehicle is on campus property. Failure to display or improperly displaying a parking sticker/tag may result in a ticket.
4. All replacement tags/stickers (lost or stolen) cost $25.00. Protect your permit; lock your vehicle at all times. Students needing to register a second vehicle may do so for $10.00, although they may only have one vehicle parked on campus at any given time.
5. Vehicles must be maintained in a safe and operating condition at all times.
6. Vehicles that are deemed unsafe, non-operating, in a state of disrepair, or without valid license plates will be towed from campus at the owner’s expense.
7. Parking on the grass is prohibited except during special events in designated areas.
8. Marked parking lanes must be observed in all lots.
9. Campus speed limit is 20 MPH (5 MPH in parking lots).
10. No parking is permitted along any roadway, or in any area designated by a yellow or red curb, no parking signs, fire lanes, cross walks or sidewalks.
11. Any vehicle found blocking another vehicles access to or from a parking space may be towed at the owner’s expense.
12. Any vehicle that is found parked in and/or interfering with the normal flow of traffic will be towed at the owner’s expense.
13. When two inches or more of snow accumulate, parking on the main drive is permitted only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. All vehicles must be moved after 5:00 p.m. to allow for snow removal.
14. Any accident occurring on the Earlham campus must be reported to Public Safety immediately unless extenuating circumstances exist.
15. Any driver who is involved in a hit-and-run accident on campus, or is involved in reckless driving on campus, will forfeit all of his/her campus parking and driving privileges immediately for the rest of the academic year. The driver will also be subject to state and local law enforcement.
16. Students are permitted to park in any of the lots designated as student parking. Motorbikes and motorcycles are considered motor vehicles and all these rules apply to those vehicles as well. Motorized scooters are prohibited from parking on sidewalks, at bike racks or within any building.
17. If you will be hosting a guest on campus, please stop by the Public Safety office to pick up a temporary guest/visitor parking pass at no charge. We are open 24/7 to assist you.
18. Motorized vehicles are allowed only on established campus roadways and are prohibited on grass or sidewalks, except for special event parking as designated by Public Safety.
19. No overnight parking is permitted in those parking lots that are designated as timed parking.
20. Students who are children of faculty or staff members must register for a student permit. Employee permits are not valid for student parking.

B. Methods of handling violations

Tickets will be issued by Public Safety officers and student Community Service Officers.

Each ticket received for violation of handicap parking is a $100.00 fine. Each ticket received for non-registration/expired registration or Fire Lane violation is $75.00 per ticket. Tickets for all other violations are $25.00 per ticket.

Notice will be sent to a violator after receiving 5 parking tickets. The Dean of Students office will also be notified. Faculty, staff and contract employee violators will be reported to the vice president or dean in their area.

If the violator receives a sixth parking ticket and no payment has been made toward the previous accumulated parking tickets, then a wheel immobilizer (boot) will be attached to the front driver side tire preventing the vehicle from being moved and a notice will be placed on the vehicle. If the violator makes partial payment toward their unpaid ticket amount, and has a receipt of such payment, then the boot will be removed. If the violator fails to make a payment towards their outstanding citations within 72 hours, the vehicle may be towed from campus at the owner’s expense.

If a violator receives a tenth ticket for parking/traffic violations he or she shall be deemed a habitual offender and have their campus parking privileges revoked, resulting in the violator’s car being towed from campus. The owner assumes all liability for the towing and storage fees.

All fines associated with parking/traffic tickets are accessed to the student/employee account by Public Safety and/or accounting. All fines must be paid in full prior to allowing that student to register for classes for the next academic semester or prior to the issuance of lottery number for housing for the following academic year.

C. Ticket appeal policy

If you wish to appeal a parking violation, you must fill out a ticket appeal request form within 14 days of the date on the ticket. Upon completion it should be taken to Public Safety for review. Upon review the violator will be notified via email if the appeal has been accepted.