Parking Regulations

General Information

Overview

The rules and regulations set forth in this policy have been developed to control traffic movement and parking for all persons utilizing the parking lots, roads and ways at Amherst College. Anyone operating a motor vehicle on property owned, operated or controlled by Amherst College is subject to these regulations unless otherwise exempt by State and Federal laws, except as otherwise provided herein. The General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Rules and Regulations of the Registrar of Motor Vehicles shall apply to the College campus and other lands of the College. It is the responsibility of all persons utilizing the College parking facilities to be aware of these regulations and obey such regulations.

Authority

The Board of Trustees of Amherst College has adopted these regulations. The Board of Trustees has authorized the Chief of Campus Police and his/her designees to serve as parking control officers. The Chief of Campus Police has designated every Campus Police Officer, Campus Patrol Officer and certain Student Security employees for this purpose provided, that to expedite traffic or safeguard pedestrians in the event of fire or other emergency or special events, officers of the municipal or state police or fire department may direct or control traffic as conditions may require not withstanding the provisions of these rules and regulations.

Amherst College assumes no risk or liability for damage or loss for vehicles or vehicle contents when parked on Amherst College property.

Privilege to Operate or Park a Motor Vehicle on Campus

Permission to operate a motor vehicle on the grounds owned, operated or controlled by Amherst College is a discretionary privilege bestowed by the Board of Trustees of the College. Such privilege may be denied, revoked, suspended or modified by the action of the Trustees or by Officers of the College authorized to take such action.

All College employees and students must comply with the rules and regulations of regarding parking as part of employment, appointment or enrollment. The regulations also apply to visitors and are considered part of the terms and permission to be on campus.

Authority to Post Signs

The Chief of Campus Police, or his/her designee, is authorized to place and maintain all official traffic and parking signs, signals, markings and safety zones required on the campus and other lands of the College including the placement of temporary signs and markings as may be specifically required by emergencies or other special circumstances. Operators of vehicles used in and about the campus and other lands of the College shall conform to such signs, signals, markings and safety zones.

Interference with Signs

Any person who willfully, intentionally and without right defaces or otherwise tampers with, removes, interferes with or destroys any traffic or parking regulating sign, light, signal or marking device lawfully erected or placed on the campus or other lands of the College shall be subject to prosecution under the applicable criminal statute of the Commonwealth.

Temporary Parking Regulation Changes

The Chief of Campus Police may at times during the year suspend, change or revise the normal operating parking regulations to meet the needs of the College community and its operating functions i.e., Concerts, VIP visits, Commencement, Admissions Open House, etc. During such events, the College community will be notified of any parking changes and alternative-parking measures will be implemented for those parties who may be displaced from their designated parking areas.

Compliance

By bringing a car on campus, the operator is agreeing to comply with the regulations of Amherst College. Every vehicle on campus must be registered with the Parking Division of Campus Police. The vehicle must display a decal or temporary permit issued by the Parking Division. Parking decals or temporary permits that are not correctly displayed are not valid.

Registration

Motor vehicles may be registered with the Parking Division of Campus Police, Monday through Friday between 7 AM and 3 PM. Temporary permits for guests may be sought 24 hours a day at the Campus Police Dispatch Center.

Faculty, staff and students registering cars must have a valid registration and proof of insurance when applying for a permit.

Students may only register one car.

Guests of faculty, staff or students may receive a limited temporary permit.

There is no available Five College student parking. Five College students should find alternative transportation or park legally on town roads or metered areas.

Persons with mobility impairments may obtain special parking permission by applying with the Parking Division. Applicants should provide documentation from an attending physician regarding the impairment and the length of time the permit is needed. Medical exemptions will allow persons to park in certain designated areas. This exemption is not permission to park in fire lanes, walkways or other prohibited areas.

Amherst College will honor all State Handicap Placards and Plates.

Students

Students are eligible to receive a parking permit when they are in their sophomore, junior or senior year. First year students are only allowed permits with permission from the Dean of Student=s Office. This permission will only be given upon compelling argument that exemption is necessary.

Upper class students may not register a motor vehicle belonging to a First year Student. Attempts to circumvent this rule will result in fines, booting and possible revocation of parking privileges.

Students are never eligible for a faulty/staff parking decal. Any student vehicle displaying a faculty/staff decal will be considered unregistered and in violation of the College=s parking rules and regulations.

The College does not guarantee parking will be available. A permit is merely permission to park legally in one of the College lots.

Parking lots that are available to students are the Hills Parking Lot, O=Connell Parking Lot and Temporary Parking Lot. Parking is also available at the Off Campus Residence Houses.

Students are responsible for all violations and fines incurred by a vehicle registered to them regardless of who was operating the car.

The fee for student parking permits is $60.00 per year. This may be pro-rated by the Parking Division on a semester basis. Short-term parking permits for students are available for $2.00 per week with a one week minimum.

Habitual Offenders that have been placed on the Aboot list@ will have their parking privileges revoked having the boot immobilization device placed on their car a second time.

Student vehicles are placed on the Aboot list@ after receiving six violations regardless of whether or not the citations have been paid. See section 19 of ARegulations@ Students receiving a parking decal for a car registered in another state must complete an application for a AMassachusetts Non Resident Student@ sticker. Forms and stickers are available at the Campus Police Parking Office.

Visitors

Visitors on campus for business purposes must obtain temporary parking permits at the Campus Police Office. Visitors on campus for one or two days may simply be placed on the special parking@ list by the Parking Division. Visitors who will be on campus for extended periods should receive a temporary permit from the Parking Division.

Guests of students may receive overnight parking permits for student lots only. Guests of students may not park on campus overnight. There shall be no fee for short term student guest parking. Guest parking may not exceed 72 hours.

Hosts are responsible for notifying their guests or visitors of the parking rules and regulations and ensuring compliance.

Visitors who receive two or more citations are placed on the Aboot/tow list@ Visitors who do not meet with the Communications and Parking Supervisor and resolve parking citations will be booted and the boot will not be removed until a fifty (50) dollar service charge is paid in cash.

Faculty/Staff

All Faculty and Staff are eligible for parking permits. Faculty and Staff may register more than one car. There is no cost to Faculty and Staff for parking permits. The College does not guarantee available parking for all registered vehicles. During peak usage it may be necessary to park a distance from your office. Amherst College is designed as a walking campus and most walks are easily managed.

All parking rules and regulations and pertinent Massachusetts General Laws are applicable to Faculty and Staff vehicles.

Parking citations will be put on Faculty and Staff vehicles found in violation of College policy. The Chief of Campus Police will notify habitual violators (more than three citations per year) in writing and the appropriate Department Head or Dean advised.

When a Faculty or Staff person sells or otherwise loses possession of a vehicle the decal should be returned to the Parking Division.

Special Events

When a department is hosting a special event on campus and a large number of unregistered vehicles will be present, the event host must coordinate parking with the Parking Division. The Administrative Assistant and Chief of Campus Police will work with the event host to ensure that participants know where to park so as not to adversely impact the good working order of the College. Event parking may be restricted to certain lots at the discretion of the Police Chief or his/her designee. Event hosts are responsible for notifying attendees of the parking rules and regulations.

Summer Programs

Parking Rules and Regulations are in effect during the summer months. The Summer Programs Office notifies participant groups of the parking regulations and issues short term parking permits. The permit fee is included in program costs and there is no additional fee.

Applying a Parking Decal

Amherst College parking decals are designed to be adhered to window glass in a motor vehicle. Decals must be permanently adhered to the driver's side rear passenger window. The decal should be applied to the interior of the window facing outward. A diagram is included when a permit is issued.

Old permits should be removed when a new permit is issued. When parked on campus the window must be in the closed position so that the permit may be seen.

Temporary Permits should be affixed in the same location using tape or a hang-tag supplied by the Parking Division.

Permits are for the registered vehicle only. Do not transfer permits from one vehicle to another without notifying the Parking Division.

Regulations & Violations

Regulations

  1. No vehicle may be parked in a restricted area at any time. Restricted areas are those indicated by signs and/or include driveway entrances, fire hydrants, walks, lawns, etc.

  2. Student vehicles may be parked on the Campus (see map) from 4:30PM until 2:00AM Monday through Friday and from 4:30PM Friday until 2:00AM Monday. Any student who parks on the upper campus before 4:30PM, will be subject to an immediate fine of $50.00. The upper campus is defined as the Octagon Road and the lot in front of Johnson Chapel, the entry road off Rte. 116, the road in front of Converse, the Converse lot, the Main Quadrangle, the road leading to the Campus Center, Merrill Science Lot, the Coolidge Lot, the Merrill Guest Lot, the Physical Plant Lot, Barrett Hill, Fayerweather lot, Webster Circle and the road between Grosvenor and Music. Additonally, the entire road leading from Rte 116 in front of the Alumni Gym and Wilson Admissions and the Admissions Lot.

  3. Registered Student vehicles may be parked in the O'Connell Lot (Corner of Dickinson and College Streets), and the Hills Lot (off College Street, east of the Central Vermont overpass) at any time. These vehicles may also be parked at the Orr Rink Lot from 8:00AM until 2:00AM.

  4. It should be noted there is no approved parking at any time on the East Drive or elsewhere in the Social Dormitory area except the Coolidge Lot (4:30 PM to 2 AM, south of Coolidge Dormitory) and the off-street areas at Pond, Crossett and Stone Dormitories, as posted.

    3a. NOTE: Parking restrictions for the residents of Waldorf Astoria & The Plaza. Students and guest of students are not allowed to park on the access road and ways adjacent to the Waldorf and Plaza. Short term parking, for a period of time not to exceed 20 minutes, for the purpose of offloading or loading a vehicle, will be allowed only if prior authorization is granted by a Campus Police Officer or Dispatcher. Ask to have your vehicle placed on the "Special Parking List". Please call teh business line @ x 2291
  5. Special exceptions for students involved in student activities, loading and unloading of vehicle, physically handicapped or those requiring temporary exceptions after illness or injury, or where a vehicle is disabled, must be obtained, in advance, at the Campus Police Office.

  6. The Winter Parking Ban is in effect from December 1 until March 31st every year. No vehicle may be parked on campus overnight, including weekends, during the parking ban. Vehicles parked on campus after 2 AM will be towed to facilitate snow removal regardless of whether or not snow is predicted or occurring.

  7. Motorcycles, motor scooters, motorized bicycles and mopeds must comply with all parking and traffic regulations. Violations are subject to the fine system.

  8. No motorized cycles may be stored on campus in any College building.. The owner shall be responsible for any fee required to remove a cycle from a College building.

  9. Service Spaces and loading docks are reserved for the use of authorized College vehicles, contractor vehicles or emergency services vehicles. All other vehicles are prohibited from using these spaces.

  10. The Campus Police Dispatch (X 2291) must be notified of all disabled motor vehicles. If a vehicle is interfering with the safe flow of traffic Campus Police will tow it at the expense of the vehicle owner. If the vehicle is merely parked in a designated area for which it is not permitted Campus Police will grant a twenty four hour exemption to the owner to arrange removal or repair.

  11. Abandoned motor vehicles will be towed at the expense of the owner in compliance with Massachusetts General Law. The towing and subsequent storage and/or disposal cost are the responsibility of the vehicle owner. The owner of the vehicle may also suffer the penalties of law under MGL Chapter 90 section 22B. Vehicles may be towed at the direction of the Chief of Campus Police or his/her designees. Amherst College accepts no liability for any vehicle abandoned on College property and vehicles that do not display valid registration plates and/or a College parking decal may be considered abandoned.

  12. Vehicles in violation of College policy may be ticketed, towed, or immobilized (booted). This includes all faculty/staff, student, visitor and unregistered vehicles.

  13. Any student convicted of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs may not apply for a permit to park on the Amherst College campus and may not operate a motor vehicle on campus.

  14. Students in violation of criminal sections of Chapter 90 of the Massachusetts General Laws, such as Operating Under the Influence, Operating to Endanger or Operating After Suspension, may face criminal charges in addition to Judicial Referral.

  15. The Maximum Speed Limit on any campus roadway is fifteen (15) miles per hour.

  16. No vehicle shall be operated with persons on any part of the vehicle not intended for passengers, including, but not limited to, the hood, trunk, roof or other exterior part.

  17. Vehicles must stop and yield to pedestrian traffic.

  18. The registered permit holder is responsible for all traffic citations received on the vehicle, regardless of whether or not they are in immediate control of the car.

  19. Students with more than six parking violations that have not met with the Administrative Assistant-Campus Police will be placed on the immobilization list and may have their vehicle booted. Students who are booted must meet with the Administrative Assistant prior to having the boot removed and will incur an additional $50 boot removal fee.

    The Parking and Communications Supervisor may only remove a vehicle from the boot list upon compelling argument and after consultation with the Chief of Campus Police.

  20. Vehicles that pose a danger to public safety may be towed at the direction of any police officer or upon the request of any fire fighter in the performance of their duties.

Violations

Registered vehicles in violation of the parking regulations will be ticketed, towed or booted

A copy of the ticket will be sent to the Amherst College student registrant's P.O. Box.

Un-registered vehicle owners are responsible to remedy the violation upon receipt of a notice on the windshield.

Schedule A: $15 Violations

A-01 Not Registered with the College/Failure to Obtain a Parking Permit

A-02 Failure to Register Student Vehicle within 48 Hours

A-03 Parked in Violation of Signage, including parking overnight on campus between April 1st ad November 30th.

A-04 Blocking a Dumpster

A-05 Parked outside marked lanes

A-06 No parking zone (includes parking on lower campus before 4:30 PM)

Schedule B: $25 Violation

B-01 Parked on grass or sidewalk

B-02 Impeding flow of traffic

B-03 Violation of Winter Parking Ban

Schedule C: $50 Violation

C-01 Parked on Upper Campus

C-02 Handicapped Parking Violation

C-03 Failure to Stop on the Signal of a Police Officer

C-04 Operating in an Unsafe Manner, Negligently or Dangerously

C-05 Parked in a posted FIRE LANE

Schedule D: $100-200 Violation

D-01 Defacing or tampering with Traffic Controls Signs or Devices

D-02 Operating Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs

D-03 Falsification of a Parking Permit or Application

Towing/Booting

  1. In the event of overnight parking during the snow season, repeated parking violations, failure to register a motor vehicle, parking on walks and lawns, illegal parking, towing or booting at the owner's expense will be carried out by an authorized agent. Unauthorized use of handicapped parking spaces will result in immediate towing/booting. Boot Removal Fee $50.00 cash.
  2. As approved by the Department of Public Utilities of Massachusetts, the towing fee for the current school year is $75.00 per vehicle. In addition to the towing fee a storage fee of $20.00 for the first 24 hours or any fraction thereof will be charged. The towing rates and storage fees may change, subject to approval by the D.P.U.
  3. In the event the vehicle is claimed prior to "hook up" the charge will be $15.00; if the vehicle is claimed after "hook up,@ the charge will be $25.00, payable to the Amherst Towing Company operator.
  4. The towing agent is responsible for the safe transport and storage of towed vehicles. Amherst College is not liable for damage to a vehicle as a result of towing.

Notification

The parking control officer will leave a copy of the citation on the vehicle at the time of the violation. A second copy of the citation will be mailed to Amherst College student permit holders at their campus mail address.

Visitors and faculty/staff members will only receive the citation copy left on the vehicle and it is their responsibility to correct the deficit.

Habitual offenders will be notified by the Administrative Assistant-Campus Police when it becomes apparent that there is a chronic problem.

Appeals

Appeals must be made in writing to the Administrative Assistant-Campus Police in writing within 72 hours of the violation. The Administrative Assistant will notify the appellant of his/her decision.

Campus Police Home Page

Last updated: October 16, 2000
Comments:Amherst College Campus Police