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Parking Regulations

Section 1. OBJECTIVES OF TRAFFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS

  1. To protect and control pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
  2. To assure access at all times of emergency equipment.
  3. To minimize traffic disturbances during class hours.
  4. To facilitate the work of the college by assuring access to its vehicles and by assigning the limited parking space for the most efficient use.

Section 2. APPLICABLE TRAFFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS

  1. The motor vehicle and other traffic laws of the State of Washington are applicable on all lands devoted to educational, research, recreational,
    or parking activities of Pierce College.
  2. The traffic codes of Pierce County are applicable upon all lands located within Pierce County.

Section 3. PERMITS REQUIRED FOR VEHICLES ON CAMPUS

  1. Display of student parking permits is mandatory. Proof of vehicle registration is required in order to apply for a parking permit.
  2. Faculty and staff are required to display a parking permit that designates staff or faculty in the rear window of the vehicle.
  3. Disabled persons must display a recognized disability parking permit or have official disabled persons license plates on the vehicle.
  4. Dental patients must have a appointment pass from the dental clinic displayed on the dash of their vehicle in order to park in the east reserved parking lot.
  5. All participants in a student car pool must have a car pool pass displayed on the dashboard when using carpool spaces. One pass must match the vehicle sticker number.

The person to whom a permit is issued to, is responsible for all violations of the rules and regulations involving the vehicle for which the permit was issued. This does not relieve from responsibility other persons who violate the rules and regulations.

Section 4. PARKING AREAS-PERMIT REQUIRED

  1. No vehicle is to be parked on District 11 properties, except in those areas set aside and designated as parking areas.
  2. No vehicle is to be parked in any paved parking area without a permit for that area, except for state-owned vehicles used by the college.
  3. No vehicle may be parked in a designated carpool space without a minimum of two (2) carpool passes displayed. One pass must match the vehicle sticker number.
  4. Students may park in "Staff Only" designated parking after 5:00 p.m.

Section 5. REGULATORY SIGNS AND DIRECTIONS

  1. Drivers of vehicles are to obey all regulatory signs posted on the lands controlled by Pierce College.
  2. Drivers must also comply with directions given them by campus safety office personnel with regards to the control and regulation of traffic and parking.
  3. The campus safety department is authorized to erect signs, barricades, other structures and to paint markings and other directions upon the streets and roadways of the grounds controlled by Pierce College.
  4. No person without authorization from the director of plant operations shall move, deface, or in any way change a sign, barricade, structure, marking
    or direction so placed for the purpose of regulating traffic or parking.

Section 6. TRAFFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS

  1. No vehicle shall be operated on campus grounds at a speed greater than 10 miles per hour unless otherwise posted.
  2. Drivers of motor vehicles shall yield right of way to any pedestrian crossing any street or roadway within a crosswalk.
  3. Pedestrians crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked or otherwise indicated crosswalk shall yield to all vehicles upon the street or roadway.

Section 7. PARKING RULES

  1. Parking permits are to be affixed on the rear window driver's side of the vehicle.
  2. Back-in parking is prohibited.
  3. Motorcycles shall park in areas designated - motorcycles -.
  4. Bicycles are to be parked outside of all buildings in provided racks in such a manner that does not block, obstruct or in any way impede pedestrian traffic.
  5. No vehicle shall be parked to occupy any portion of more than one parking space or stall.
  6. No vehicle may be left unattended for a period more than 72 hours without written permission from the campus safety office.
  7. Directional arrows and signs within parking and driving areas shall determine allowable travel for motor vehicles.
  8. No vehicle shall be parked against the flow of traffic.

Section 8. DISABLED PARKING

No vehicle shall be parked in a disabled parking space unless one of the following criteria is met:

  1. The vehicle displays a valid State of Washington disabled parking permit.
  2. The vehicle displays a recognizable governmental sponsoring agency disabled parking permit.
  3. The vehicle displays a temporary parking permit approved by the Pierce College special needs coordinator.

Decisions on the granting of temporary permits for disabled parking will be made by the Pierce College special needs coordinator.

Section 9. ISSUANCE OF TRAFFIC CITATIONS

Upon violation(s) of any of the rules and regulations traffic and parking on lands controlled by Pierce College, Campus Safety Office personnel are empowered to issue citations. Such citations may be served by attaching a copy thereof to the vehicle in a prominent place or by personally serving the citation to the operator. Violation(s) of the campus traffic code refers to:

  1. No parking permit displayed.
  2. Failure to stop at stop signs. The failure to bring a vehicle to a complete stop at a properly erected and identified stop sign.
  3. Failure to yield right of way. The act of depriving another vehicle or pedestrian of the right of way at an intersection or crosswalk.
  4. Improper parking. Parking a vehicle in an area that is intended for purposes other than parking, i.e.; fire lanes, driveways, sidewalks, lawns, or taking up more than one space.
  5. Parking in the wrong area. Parking in marked Faculty, Staff, or Dental Patient spaces without proper permit.
  6. Negligent/reckless driving. The operation of motor vehicle in such a manner as to place persons or property in danger of injury or grievous harm.
  7. Speeding. Operating a vehicle in a manner that causes the vehicle to exceed the posted speed limit.
  8. Parking in a disabled parking space without permit.
  9. Parking in a car pool space with out having a minimum of two passes displayed. One pass must match the vehicle sticker number.
  10. Parking and/or driving against the flow of traffic.

Section 10 . FINES AND PENALTIES

    1. Fines will be levied for all violations of the rules and regulations contained in this chapter.
    2. In addition to fines imposed under these regulations, illegally parked vehicles may be subject to impoundment.
    3. Traffic and parking fines will be assessed at the following rate, subject to change at the College's discretion.
      1. SPEEDING: not less than $5 nor more than $25 and/or loss of parking privileges on campus for a period of time up to one year.
      2. FAILURE TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY: $10 each infraction.
      3. FAILURE TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN: $10 each infraction.
      4. RECKLESS/NEGLIGENT OPERATION OF A VEHICLE: $10 for first infraction and $20 and mandatory appearance before the College Parking Appeals Committeefor the second infraction.
      5. DRIVING ACROSS OR PARKED ON THE LAWN: not less than the $10 nor more than the amount of property damage each infraction and may impound/tow without notice if threat to campus safety.
      6. PARKING IN OR BLOCKING A FIRELANE: $10.00 each infraction and may impound/tow without notice if threat to campus safety.
      7. PARKING IN A DISABLED SPACE OR BLOCKING ACCESS RAMPS OR SPACES FOR THE DISABLED: $15 for first infraction and a warning notice of impound if infraction is repeated. $25 for second infraction and a final warning of impound/tow and a mandatory appearance before College Parking Appeals Committee.
      8. PARKING IN OR BLOCKING DRIVEWAYS OR SIDEWALKS: $10 each infraction and may impound/tow without notice if threat to campus safety.
      9. GENERAL PARKING INFRACTIONS: $5 each
        1) NO PARKING PERMIT DISPLAYED
        2) IMPROPERLY DISPLAYED PERMIT
        3) BACK IN PARKING
        4) PARKED SO AS TO OCCUPY MORE THAT ONE SPACE
        5) PARKED IN AN UNAUTHORIZED AREA
        6) PARKED IN A LOADING OR UNLOADING ZONE FOR A PERIOD MORE THAN 15 MINUTE OR POSTED TIME LIMIT
      10. CARPOOL VIOLATION: $25
  1. Mitigation and suspension of penalties.

    2. Upon showing of good cause or mitigating circumstances, the college parking appeals committee may impose a lesser fine or penalty or it may grant extension of time within which to comply with its determination and sentence.

Section 11. GRIEVANCE PROCEEDINGS

You may appeal any ticket within five school days of receipt by either taking the ticket to Cascade 304, Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom, or calling 964-6751, campus safety office Fort Steilacoom campus. The office personnel will schedule a hearing date with the college parking appeals committee. If due to unavoidable circumstances, you are not able to attend the scheduled appeals session, you may reschedule the hearing date by contacting the Vice President of Learning & Student Success' office prior to the hearing date. You must also submit the appeal in writing to the director of plant operations giving full particulars. If you elect to waive your right to appeal or fail to appeal within five school days of receipt take this ticket to the cashiers office window at either campus to pay the appropriate fine. If you do not pay or appeal this ticket within five school days of receipt your vehicle may be impounded by the college and stored at the your expense as provided herein.

Section 12. ENFORCEMENT OF DETERMINATION OF THE PARKING COMMITTEE.

  1. In the event a student fails or refuses to comply with the determination of the college parking committee, such alleged violator shall not be eligible to register for additional courses, or obtain a transcript of their grades or credits, or receive a degree; until compliance has been made.
  2. Failure by employees to pay citations shall result in the withholding of paychecks either for June or for the last month of an employment contract.

Section 13. IMPOUND PROCEDURE.

During the first week of school, vehicles found improperly parked (i.e., parking in staff or faculty spaces) will be issued a warning ticket. Violation such as parking in fire lanes or unauthorized disabled parking or creating threat to public safety will result in citations or impoundment procedures may be taken.

Starting the second week of each quarter, citations will be given for all traffic and parking infractions.

Violations such as unauthorized disabled parking or parking in a fire lane may include a citation and notice of impound. If the vehicle is cited again for an impound infraction, a final warning impound notice will be attached to the citation. A third violation may result in vehicle impoundment at the owners expense.

Section 14. DISABLED, INOPERATIVE OR ABANDONED VEHICLES - IMPOUNDING

No disabled, inoperative, or abandoned vehicle shall be parked on the campus without a permit to do so. Vehicles which have been disabled, inoperative, or abandoned may be impounded and stored at the expense of the owner and/or the operator thereof following 24 hours notice posted at a conspicuous place on the vehicle. Neither the College or its employees shall be liable for loss or damage of any kind resulting from such impoundment and storage.

Section 15. IMPOUNDMENT WITHOUT NOTICE.

A vehicle may be impounded without notice to the owner or operator in the following circumstances:

  1. When in the judgment of the director of plant operations, the vehicle is obstructing or may impede the flow of traffic.
  2. The vehicle poses an immediate threat to public safety.

Revised 9/27/96