Traffic and Parking Violation Regulations
Parking & Transportation Services and the UNCW Police Department share the responsibility to enforce all Traffic and Parking Regulations approved by the Board of Trustees. Questions concerning these regulations should be directed to Parking & Transportation Services.
Click
here to view the complete version of the UNCW Traffic & Parking
Regulations.
Civil Penalties - Effective Academic Year 2011-12
The traffic and parking violations listed below are considered civil offenses, and applicable fines are assessed and collected through established University debt collection procedures.
| Violation | Fine |
|---|---|
| Bicycle Violation Bicycle improperly stored or bicycle moving violation |
$25.00 |
| Boot Warning – Immobilization to Follow Issued with 5th citation during an academic year – warning that vehicle is eligible for a boot with next violation |
$0.00 |
| Boot - Administration Fee Issued with 6th citation during an academic year - vehicle is immobilized with a boot |
$100.00 |
| Displaying Lost, Stolen or Unauthorized University Permit Displayed permit reported as lost or stolen, or permit has been duplicated, forged or altered |
$300.00 |
| False Registration of Vehicle Parking permit or vehicle license plate does not match the vehicle |
$100.00 |
| Fire Lane Vehicle is parked in a designated fire lane |
$100.00 |
| Handicapped Parking Vehicle is parked in a handicapped space without valid state and university issued placards |
$250.00 |
| Improper Display of Permit Permit is not displayed as required |
$10.00 |
| Loading Zone Vehicle is parked in a designated loading zone |
$50.00 |
| Motorcycle Parking Vehicle parked in a motorcycle space or designated area |
$25.00 |
| Moving Violation Violation of a traffic law (issued by university police) |
$50.00 |
| No Decal Vehicle is on UNCW property without a valid permit |
$50.00 |
| No License Tag/Plate/Obscuring VIN Number Vehicle does not have a license plate and/or the VIN number is obscured |
$100.00 |
| Non-Parking Area Vehicle is parked in an area not designated for parking |
$25.00 |
| Obstructing Traffic Vehicle is blocking or disrupting traffic |
$25.00 |
| Parking Out of Zone or Faculty/Staff Vehicle is displaying a permit that is only valid in a different parking area |
$25.00 |
| Queue Parking Vehicle is waiting in a traffic area for a parking space to become vacant |
$25.00 |
| Reserved Parking Vehicle is parked in a space that is reserved for an individual or department |
$50.00 |
| Restricted 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Vehicle displays a nighttime permit and is parked between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. |
$25.00 |
Restricted Lot or Zone |
$25.00 |
| Service Vehicle Only Vehicle is parked in a space designated for a service vehicle |
$50.00 |
| Skateboard Moving violation (issued by university police only) |
$25.00 |
| Time Limit Exceeded / Meter Vehicle has been parked for longer than the posted time limit |
$25.00 |
| Tow Away Zone Vehicle is parked in an area designated as a tow away zone |
$50.00 |
| Visitor Parking Vehicle is parked in a designated visitor space or area |
$25.00 |
Prohibited Vehicle Parking
- Stopping or parking so as to block the movement of other vehicles..
- Parking so as to obstruct the flow of traffic or endanger life and/or property.
- Parking of a vehicle in an area reserved for a special event as designated by signs or traffic enforcement personnel.
- Using a designated parking place for dormant storage.
- Parking on a sidewalk.
- Parking within an intersection or crosswalk or in front of a driveway.
- Parking on the grass or landscape areas unless directed by a Traffic and Parking Officer.
- Parking on the approaches or other portions of a parking area which are not clearly marked for parking.
- Blocking fire hydrants, trash receptacles (dumpsters), fire lanes and service entrances.
- When a particular angle or manner of parking is indicated in a
parking area or parking lot by signs or markings, no person shall
park a vehicle except at the angle or in the manner so indicated,
and no vehicle shall be parked in such as manner as to occupy more
than one space indicated by lines, signs, or markings for one vehicle.
- Parking in a space or along a curb for a period of time longer than allowed by signs of other markings.
- Parking in a space designated for handicapped parking without a proper permit.
- Parking in a space reserved for visitors without being a visitor to the campus.
- Parking of a vehicle in an area reserved for construction parking
as designated by signs or barriers.
Payment of Parking Fines
The individual in whose name the vehicle is registered with the university is responsible for clearing parking tickets and paying assessed fines.
Procedure for clearing parking tickets:
- Parking tickets must be taken to the University Cashier’s Office for disposition within seven (7) days of the citation issue date. The parking fine must be on the student’s account before the student can pay the citation.
- If there is no response to the reminder within seven (7) days, the assessed fine is subject to established debt collection procedures. Until such time as the fine is paid, the registered owner/operator (student) cannot enroll for future courses or obtain a transcript of academic work completed at UNCW.
Alternate procedure for eligible students:
- The new UNCW Parking Citation - Community Service Initiative provides students with the opportunity to utilize community service through Parking & Transportation Services as an alternative to paying one specified parking citation per semester. Students should contact Parking & Transportation Services at 910-962-3178 or email: parking@uncw.edu to determine eligibility for the Community Service Initiative.
Booting Vehicles
To protect campus parking spaces for paid parking permit holders, Parking & Transportation Services enforces the university’s parking regulations by ticketing, booting and towing of vehicles.
Faculty, staff and students are subject to having their vehicle booted under the following circumstances:
| Circumstances | Booting Consequences |
|---|---|
Displaying an altered or lost/stolen permit |
|
Person has received five (5) traffic and/or parking citations during the academic year, whether the tickets have been paid or unpaid |
|
Person has received six (6) citations during the academic year, whether the tickets have been paid or unpaid |
|
Person has received seven (7) citations during the academic year, whether the tickets have been paid or unpaid |
|
Person has received eight (8) citations during the academic year, whether the tickets have been paid or unpaid |
|
Towing
The Department of University Police is authorized to remove from the campus, to a storage area, at the owner’s expense any vehicle parking in violation of the Traffic and Parking Regulations. As a matter of enforcement policy, University Police Officers will not tow a vehicle except in the following circumstances, without specific approval from the Director of the Department of University Police.
- The operator’s authorization to operate a vehicle on campus
has been revoked and the operator has been duly notified of this
revocation by personal service, campus mail, or first class mail.
- The vehicle is blocking a curb cut designed for wheelchairs.
- The vehicle is parked in a fire lane or other area marked with appropriate reserved parking signage.
- The vehicle does not have a permit, has remained unmoved for a period of 72 hours and the owner cannot be contacted or refuses to remove the car after being contacted.
- The vehicle is blocking traffic or another car and the operator of the other car wishes to leave.
- The vehicle is parked in a non-parking area and blocking a trash
dumpster.
- The vehicle has been booted before and continues to violate parking rules and regulations.
The vehicle is considered towed once the tower has been called and
the owner or operator must pay the towing fee to the tower before the
vehicle can be released.
Towing and storage fees constitute a lien against the vehicle enforceable
in the manner prescribed by law or enforcement of mechanics and materialmen’s
liens.
Whenever a vehicle is towed, the officer authorizing the tow shall conduct an inventory inspection of the contents of the vehicle to record anything of value. Contraband, evidence of a crime, or evidence of the identity of a person committing a crime found while conducting this inventory inspection shall be admissible in University Administrative Judicial Hearings or the General Court of Justice as allowed by law.
Whenever a vehicle with a valid registration plate is towed, the officer authorizing the tow shall immediately notify the last known registered owner of the vehicle for the following:
- A description of the vehicle.
- A place where the vehicle is stored.
- The violation with which the owner is charged, if any.
- The procedure the owner must follow to have the vehicle returned to him.
- The procedure the owner must follow to request a probable cause hearing on the towing.
This notice shall, if feasible, be given by telephone. Whether or not the owner is reached by telephone, notice shall be mailed to his last known address unless he or his agents waive this notice is writing.
The owner or any other person entitled to claim possession of the vehicle may request in writing a hearing to determine if probable cause existed for the towing. The request shall be filed with the Magistrate of New Hanover County at the New Hanover County Law Enforcement Center. The Magistrate shall set the hearing within 72 hours of his receiving the request. The owner, the person who requested the hearing if someone other than the owner, the tower and the person who authorized the towing shall be notified of the time and place of hearing.
The owner, the tower, the person who authorized the towing and any other interested parties may present evidence at the hearing. The person authorizing the towing and the tower may submit an affidavit in lieu of appearing personally but the affidavit does not preclude that person from also testifying.
The only issue at this hearing is whether or not cause existed for the towing. If the Magistrate finds that probable cause did not exist, the tower’s lien is extinguished. Any aggrieved party may appeal the Magistrate’s decision to District Court. If the Magistrate or Judge finds no probable cause existed for the towing, the Department of University Police shall provide compensate to the tower.
Vehicle Restrictions
Vehicles shall not be parked upon any street, parking space, parking lot, parking area, alley or driveway for the principal purpose of:
A. Displaying the vehicle for sale.
B. Washing, greasing, or repairing
the vehicle except in the case of repairs necessitated by an emergency
and except when permission is granted by the Director of University
Police.
C. Storage that is not incident to
the bona fide use and operation of the vehicle.
D. Storage of any detached trailer
or semi-trailer when the towing unit has been disconnected, except
when permission is granted by the Director of University Police.
Things you NEED to KNOW
- Parking citations for no decal/permit begin issuance 48 hours after classes begin. Citations for other violations are issued 24/7.
- Parking regulations and permit enforcement is twenty-four (24) hours per day – every day.
- A parking permit is required to park on campus or in the Park-and-Ride lots at any time (including exams).
- Students who do not pay their citation tickets cannot enroll in future courses or obtain a transcript of academic work completed at UNCW until their fine(s) are paid in full.
- If you have a change in any vehicle information (such as license plate number, license plate state, vehicle make, vehicle model, vehicle color, insurance name and/or policy number), contact Parking & Transportation Services immediately to update your vehicle/license plate information or to obtain a replacement permit. Current vehicle information is required and may result in a citation if it is not accurate.
- Individuals found displaying an altered or lost/stolen
decal will have their vehicle automatically booted.
Individuals committing five (5) (delete: or more) traffic and/or
parking violations within an academic year will receive a boot
warning and may have their vehicle booted automatically beginning
with the sixth (6th) ticket and any subsequent tickets.
Get details on booting of vehicles. - You are responsible for your vehicle. If a friend from out of town drives your car on campus and gets a ticket, the fine will go on your student account.
- Permits for vehicles must be affixed and clearly visible on the outside bottom left rear windshield or left rear bumper. Permits on motorcycles must be affixed to the fork or displayed in a lockable hanger.
- Lack of convenient parking is not a valid excuse for a violation!
- Stolen permits must be reported to UNCW Police immediately. A police report is required to obtain a replacement permit. Replacements will be issued at Parking & Transportation Services during normal business hours.
- Lost permits may be replaced with an affidavit of loss.
- Parking during prime time (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) outside your class is difficult. Leave time to park and walk from perimeter.
- Disabled vehicles must be reported to UNCW Police in person or by phone.
- If you receive a ticket and have a valid appeal with documentation, you may appeal within seven calendar days. Written appeals to the Parking Appeals Committee are filed in Parking & Transportation Services. ALL DECISIONS OF THE BOARD ARE FINAL.
- Resident lots are designated by color (Blue, Gold, and Brown). The color of your permit indicates your designated zone. Resident students must park in assigned resident zones.
- Parking lots designated as Overflow are open to all residents with a current permit.
- Resident students may use commuter parking lots only after 4 p.m. until 7 a.m.!
- Sitting in your car waiting for a parking space is called Queuing and is a $25 violation.
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