Parking and Motor Vehicle Registration

Rules and Regulations
Motor Vehicle Registration and Operation

Samford University is private property and has the authority to promulgate and enforce rules and regulations to the operation of motor vehicles on campus. The responsibility of obtaining knowledge of parking and traffic regulations rests with the motor vehicle operator. These rules and regulations are subject to enforcement on a year-round basis regardless of whether or not school is in session.

General

Standard rules of the road from the city, county and state, as well as directive signs and instruction by officers directing traffic, will be observed on campus.

All motor vehicle operators must have in their possession a valid operator's license and produce same when requested by a Campus Safety officer. The speed limit on campus is 25 MPH; however, any speed not safe for the conditions of the road, including vehicle and pedestrian congestion, will be enforced. Please observe no passing on campus.

Motorists must stop at pedestrian crosswalks and yield the right-of-way to pedestrians under all situations.

Parking along streets and in parking lots is permitted only in spaces so designated or marked for vehicle parking.

All vehicles must display the appropriate registration decal or permit.

Double parking on streets in parking lots is prohibited.

Driving or parking on the grass or sidewalks is prohibited.

Parking in loading/service zones is prohibited between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Parking in the service area behind the University Center is prohibited except for service vehicles, delivery vehicles and other specially authorized vehicles.

Between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, parking by students is permitted only in the specific decal color zone. Other than these specific hours, parking spaces are open to all decals, except for spaces designated as reserved, fire zone or handicap.

Motor Vehicle Registration

All motor vehicles operated on campus must be registered with the Department of Campus Safety, Room 202, Beeson University Center. The appropriate vehicle registration decal shall be affixed to the exterior of the rear window on the driver's side. In addition, a campus sticker will be placed on the inside front left corner of the windshield (driver's side). Decals will be affixed by the adhesive on the decal and may not be affixed with tape or any other temporary means. Variance from this method of affixing the decal to a vehicle must be approved in writing by the Director of Campus Safety. No more than one current decal shall be affixed to any vehicle. The method of affixing decals on motorcycles will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Providing false information concerning the registration of a vehicle will subject the violator to disciplinary action.

All vehicle registration decals expire yearly on August 15. Faculty and staff hangtags expire yearly on September 15. Student decals cost $20.00 and replacement decals cost $5.00, not pro-rated and not refundable.

2008 - 2009

Blue Hang Tag: Full-time faculty and staff, Part-time faculty and staff who are not students

Red Hang Tag: Contract employees

Teal Hangtag: Sodexho and Campus Dining employees

Blue Decal: Commuter students

Purple Decal: Residents of Central Campus

Green Decal: Residents of Beeson Woods

Yellow Decal: Residents of West Campus and Shelburne Lane

Temporary parking permits, for periods of less than 30 days and visitor parking permits are available at the Department of Campus Safety, Room 202, Beeson University Center. Casual visitors on campus may use the designated visitor parking located at Sherman Circle.

Violations, Fines and Disciplinary Action

Traffic and parking violators are issued citations by University Campus Safety personnel. Irrespective of the operator of the vehicle, the person in whose name the vehicle is registered is responsible for all traffic and parking violations. Student fines will be posted to the registrant's account at the Bursar's office. Faculty and staff fines are posted on the computer in the Department of Campus Safety. Fines may be paid at the Bursar's office, by mail or by depositing a payment in a collection box at the Campus Safety Office.

All fines must be paid before a student will be permitted to register for the succeeding semester; the degree of a graduating senior will be withheld until all fines are paid; and transcripts will be withheld until all fines are paid.

The fact that a citation is not issued when a vehicle is illegally parked does not mean or imply that the regulations are no longer in effect.

The inability to find an authorized parking space in convenient or specific locations is not justification for violations of parking regulations.

2008 -2009

$100 Violation
Parking in handicapped space.
Parking in fire lane.

$50 Violation
No decal. Speeding.
Running a stop sign. Failing to stop for pedestrians.
Wrong way on a one way street. Blocking or obstructing traffic.
Driving/parking on grass or sidewalk. Making illegal turn.
Blocking trash dumpster. Parking in reserved space.
Parking in unauthorized color zone.
Parking in unmarked area.
Parking on yellow curb.

$30 Violation
Unsafe vehicle operation.

$25 Violation
Parking in loading/service zone. Visitor/15-minute zone.

$20 Violation
improperly Displayed Decal. 

$15 Violation
Parking on street. Double parking street/lot. 
Mutilated or defaced decal.

In addition to payment of fines, a person receiving a tenth parking and/or traffic citation within one semester will be subject to having the person's vehicle wheel-locked or impounded. The person will be notified by the Office of Campus Safety of the numerous violations and that the vehicle will be restricted to parking in the overflow lot in the lower Leslie Wright Center. Students who continue to receive citations after being restricted to the overflow lot could have their driving privileges revoked and/or be charged with a Value Violation for insubordination for failure to comply with the University's traffic and parking regulations.

To appeal a citation, a written appeal must be filed in the Department of Campus Safety, Room 202, Beeson University Center, within ten calendar days of the date of the citation. Appeals are based on the written appeal and are processed by the Parking/Traffic Appeals Court. The Parking/Traffic Appeals Court is composed of student peers and could include faculty and staff members. The appellant shall be notified in writing of the Court's decision. If an appeal is granted, the amount of the citation will be removed from the appellant's account. The decision of the Parking/Traffic court appeals process is final.

Towing/Immobilization of Vehicles

Samford University is private property and reserves the right to have unauthorized vehicles, abandoned vehicles or vehicles operated in violation of Samford University rules and regulations towed from the campus property at the owner's expense. Situations which may warrant towing of vehicles include, but are not limited to, the following: vehicle causing a safety hazard, obstructing traffic, blocking a fire hydrant, parking in a fire lane, parking in handicapped spaces, parking on yellow curbs, parking in loading zones or abandoned vehicles. Vehicles in persistent violation of traffic regulations are subject to towing and /or immobilization (wheel lock) until fines are paid.