Small Seal

University Parking

Recommended by: Administration & Finance
Approved: Ruben Armiñana, President
Date of Original Issue: 4/26/88 (rev 7/15/99, 5/17/02, 7/15/03)
Date of Current Issue: 6/22/07
Effective Date: 6/22/07
Contact Office: Police and Parking Services

Policy #1988-4

The Parking Policy for Sonoma State University was developed in accordance with regulations set forth in Title 5 of the California Administrative Code, Education Code, Vehicle Code and applicable California State University policies. This policy supersedes the existing Parking Policy, which was originally developed April 26, 1988 and last revised on May 17, 2002. Permission to enter or drive on campus may be revoked or refused at any time.

Any person in control of a motor vehicle (including a motorcycle) who wishes to park or leave standing on campus are subject to the provisions outlined herein.  Vehicles parked on the campus of Sonoma State University must display a valid parking decal or a daily parking permit, which is available from any Parking Information Booth or daily parking permit dispensers located throughout campus.  Parking fees are required of faculty, staff, students, and visitors parking on campus, with the exception of Official University Guests as defined in Section VIII (B) of this document.

General parking regulations including lot designations, enforcement hours, and parking fee rates are updated annually and published in the document “Parking and Traffic Information” available at the Parking Information Center, Police and Parking Services (Verdot Village), and Customer Services (Salazar Hall).

Authority:
Title 5 California Administrative Code Sections 42200 - 42203
California Education Code Sections 90013, 89030, 89031, 89700, 89701
California Vehicle Code Section 21113
Chancellor's Office Coded Letter--ABS 87-36

  1. General Parking Provisions (all parking areas)
    1. All permits must be clearly visible and properly displayed to be valid (adhered to lower driver’s side windshield or hanging from the rear-view mirror).
    2. Decals are not transferable between parties; they can be used only by the person to whom the decal was assigned.
    3. Parking enforcement hours are approved by the University President and published annually in the Parking and Traffic Information brochure along with validation dates and the general fee schedule.
    4. Vehicles parked on campus must be in operable condition, currently registered with DMV and display proof of current registration.
    5. Parking is permitted in designated parking spaces only. Parking along campus roadways, interior paths, or on campus landscaping is prohibited. There is an exception for construction vehicles excepted when parked within marked construction zones or adjacent thereto when authorized by the Chief of Police.
    6. Yellow zones are for the loading and unloading of vehicles, not to exceed the posted 15-minute limit, except when posted otherwise.
    7. Motorcycles, mopeds, powered scooters, and motorized bikes are prohibited from parking at bicycle racks. All such vehicles must utilize the motorcycle pads provided in the lots.
    8. Vehicles must be parked facing into spaces and within the designated lines when such spaces are located in a directional lane or aisle indicated for one way traffic.
    9. Double parking is prohibited on any campus roadway.
    10. Sleeping overnight in vehicles on campus is prohibited.
    11. No vehicular repairs or maintenance will be made on campus except under emergency conditions with the approval of Police and Parking Services.
    12. Notification must be made to Police and Parking Services to temporarily store a vehicle on campus (e.g. an employee storing a personal vehicle while a state vehicle is being used for business travel).
    13. Abandoned vehicles, vehicles with 5 or more outstanding citations, or those that pose a serious hazardous condition will be towed away at the owner’s expense.
    14. Valid CSU permits from other campuses and those issued by the Chancellor’s Office are honored at Sonoma State University in non-reserved parking lots. Employees or students who are regularly assigned at Sonoma State University and possess a system-wide permit must display a valid SSU campus decal.
  2. Non-Reserved Parking
    1. Non-Reserved parking decals and daily permits are valid in the Non-Reserved lots only, except as noted in Section IV. A.
    2. Non-reserved parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  3. Reserved Parking
    1. Vehicles parked in the Reserved parking lots must display a Reserved decal or daily reserved permit.
    2. Reserved parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
    3. Reserved decals are also valid in the Non-Reserved lots; albeit Reserved decal holders are encouraged to use the Reserved lots.
  4. Residence Halls Parking
    1. Vehicles parked in the Residence Halls parking lots must display a valid “RH” decal. Summer decals for other on-campus parking lots are also valid in the Residence Halls parking lots.
    2. An individual living in the Residence Halls may purchase a “RH” parking decal, which is not available to the general campus population.
    3. Guests of on-campus residents must purchase a daily permit and park in a Non-Reserved area.
    4. The designated spaces in the lot north of Sauvignon Village (R4) are for reserved decals and emergency vehicles (posted).
  5. Parking for the Disabled
    1. A number of parking spaces on campus have been reserved for the disabled. These spaces are typically located in the lots and rows closest to buildings.
    2. All vehicles using disabled parking spaces must display a valid Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) license plate or placard. All vehicles using disabled parking spaces must also display a valid campus permit (either daily or decal). A 30-day medical permit may be issued to persons with a bona fide injury/disability. The medical permit does not waive the general parking fee requirement.
    3. A small number of spaces are designated “restricted” disabled parking and are issued based on need and availability to disabled employees or students dependent on motorized scooters stored on campus. These spaces are located adjacent to the scooter storage facility in A lot.
    4. Any unauthorized use of a disabled space will result in a base fine of $275 which is not typically cancelled on appeal.
    5. Students with a disability may qualify for a fee waiver or reimbursement through the Financial Aid office.
  6. Short-Term Visitor Parking
    The campus has designated short-term, timed spaces. These spaces are intended for campus visitor parking for no longer than the posted time. Parking in these spaces is free and the time limits are strictly enforced.  Timed parking spaces may be used by the same vehicle only once in each parking lot in a four (4) hour period.
  7. General Visitor Parking
    General campus visitors intending to stay on campus longer than the short-term (timed) parking spaces allow must purchase a daily permit, unless exempted under Section VIII.
    Daily permits are valid in Non-Reserved spaces only.
  8. Official University Guests
    1. Campus departments may request free Visitor permits for Official University Guests.
    2. Official University Guests includes the following:
      1. Individuals invited in an official capacity to meet with departments regarding SSU or CSU business.
      2. Prospective students participating in tours or events sponsored by the Admissions Office.
      3. Guest speakers/lecturers/performers, even if an honorarium is paid.
      4. Individuals appointed to boards, committees, or other official campus bodies, as long as the individual is not a current student or paid employee of the campus.
      5. Individuals volunteering to work for campus. Documentation must be completed with the University in order to receive the permit, which is valid for the length of service.  If the length of service is longer than one year, the permit must be renewed annually.
      6. Emeritus Faculty and Retired Staff who are holders of a valid Emeritus/Retiree Parking Permit.
      7. Campus suppliers/vendors with contracts requiring regular service or delivery to the campus (e.g. food/retail suppliers, copier repair contractor, auditors).
    3. Free Visitor parking decals/permits may not be issued to anyone in the following categories, except as noted in VIII, C. 4:
      1. Current or continuing students.
      2. Employees of the campus or its auxiliaries.
      3. Participants in workshops, conferences, or events for which a fee is being collected. Event organizers may include the cost of parking into the tuition/fee and purchase permits for the participants (subject to restrictions of State fiscal procedures).
      4. Upon approval of the Chief of Police, free parking may be granted to guests attending events of non-profit organizations and governmental entities.  Qualifying events under this section are those open to the public and whose purpose is to promote community goodwill or informational dissemination concerning a public interest and when other university fees have been waived.
    4. Visitor parking permits are valid in any of the Non-Reserved parking lots and in spaces designated for University guests.
  9. Parking Enforcement
    1. All parking enforcement activities, including the issuance of parking citations and citation appeals will be conducted in a fair, equitable, and objective fashion as prescribed by law.
    2. Parking citation appeals are considered pursuant to 40215 CVC.  Appeal procedures are published in the “Parking Citation Appeals” brochure.
    3. General practices discourage the issuance of multiple violations in any instance.  Typically, vehicles parked in violation of more than one violation will be cited for the most serious offense.
    4. Vehicles in violation of this policy may receive more than one citation within each 24-hour period under the following conditions:
      1. The most recent citation was issued in the previous calendar day and at least twelve (12) hours have passed.
      2. The vehicle was moved since the most recent citation.
  10. Related Traffic Information
    1. All California Vehicle Code sections are enforced on campus. SSU participates in Click it or Ticket campaigns and encourages the use of seat belts while operating a motor vehicle.
    2. The vehicle speed limit on campus is 25 mph on roads, 15 mph in parking lots and 5 mph on access roads.
    3. Barriers, fences, or posts will be placed by the University at any location deemed necessary for safety and for other reasons. Removal is forbidden. No vehicles (including motorcycles, mopeds and motorized bicycles) are allowed beyond placed bollards without permission from Police and Parking Services.
    4. The use of scooters, bicycles, electric carts, and other wheeled devices are subject to provisions outlined in the Alternative Vehicle Use Policy

 

Updated June 22, 2007 by SSU.policies@sonoma.edu