Parking & Traffic Regulations 2007-08

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Parking Regulations Parking Permits Enforcement Driving and Parking Offenses

Section VII
Enforcement

1. Parking and Traffic Citations: University Parking Enforcement Assistants are authorized to write university citations. UTPD officers are authorized to issue university citations and court appearance citations for violation of university Parking and Traffic Regulations:

A. University Citations: Those handled by the university, subject to university administrative enforcement charges and a right to appeal within university procedures as outlined in these regulations.

B. Court Appearance ("CA") Citations: Those issued by UTPD Officers constituting a summons to appear in either municipal court or a justice court.

2. Policy with Respect to Court Appearance ("CA") Citations: The university reserves the right to issue a "CA" citation for any violation. It is the general policy of the university, however, to issue "CA" citations at the university's option as follows:

A. For moving violations

B. For any violation when the individual's driving or parking privileges have been suspended

3. Failure to Discharge "CA" Citations: Failure to discharge UTPD issued "CA" citations may result in the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of such person.

4. Procedures for University Citations: University citations are issued for offenses listed in SECTION VIII: DRIVING AND PARKING OFFENSES. Every person receiving a university citation must remit the amount of the charge to PTS.  If a person desires to appeal a university citation, they may do so within 12 calendar days after issuance of the citation.

5. Payment of Citation Fees: Citation fee payments may be accepted:

A. Online at www.utexas.edu/parking (for university affiliates with a high assurance EID and password)

B. Via US Mail to: PTS; PO Box 7546; Austin, TX 78713-7546

C. Via campus mail to:  PTS, D3000

D. At the PTS administrative offices located in Trinity Garage during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.) or at the Brazos Garage when the main PTS office is closed.

6. Appeals from University Citations: Any person cited for violation of any portion of this regulation may appeal the citation to the university's designated appeals officer within 12 calendar days of the citation's issuance. Failure to meet the 12-calendar day appeal period requirement may result in a forfeiture of all appeal privileges.

A. Requests for exceptions to the appeal deadline will be considered on an individual basis if mitigating or unusual circumstances exist. Such requests shall be submitted in writing to the PTS office and shall detail the reason(s) such a request is being made. Requests based solely on alleged non-receipt of a copy of the citation may not be honored.

B. Submitting an appeal to the appeals officer does not substitute for payment of the towing, booting, and/or storage fees for removal of the impounded or immobilized vehicle or bicycle.

C. Information Required: Regardless of the appeals method chosen, the following information must be included with the appeal. Incomplete appeals will be returned to the sender unprocessed.

1. Name

2. UT EID (if applicable)

3. University status (i.e., student, staff, faculty, visitor, etc.)

4. Permanent address

5. E-mail address

6. Daytime phone number

7. Citation number

8. Vehicle plate number including state

9. Permit number (if applicable)

10. Reason for appeal

D. Methods of Appeal:

1. Fax Appeals: Fax appeals will be accepted 24 hours per day. The fax number is 512-232-9405.

2. E-mail / Online Appeals: Email appeals may be sent 24 hours per day to appeals@www.utexas.edu

3. Written Appeals: Written appeals may be filed:

a. In person: At the PTS office in Trinity Garage at 1815 Trinity St., during regular business hours 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday

b. Via Campus mail: The University of Texas at Austin Parking and Transportation Services Office, D3000

c. Via U.S. Mail: The University of Texas at Austin, Parking and Transportation Services Office, P.O. Box 7546, Austin, TX 78713-7546

4. Appeal Hearing: The university appeal hearing allows the individual to demonstrate the citation is invalid. The person requesting the appeal hearing will assume the burden of showing why the appropriate enforcement action should not take place. Appeal hearings can be requested via e-mail, online, fax, written letter, telephone, or in person.

7. Initial Review of Appeal: The first level of review of an appeal is with the appeals officer within PTS. The appeals officer shall review all appeals that meet the 12-calendar day requirement. Appeals filed with the appeals officer will be reviewed within 15 working days, or 30 working days during major special events.  Approval will be sought from the vice president of Employee and Campus Services if additional time is needed to review appeals.

8. Appeals Panel: The second level of appeal is with the university's Parking and Transportation Appeals Panel. This panel has been established to review appeals that have been denied or reduced by the appeals officer. The appellant may make a written appeal to the appeals panel within 12 calendar days of the date of the appeals officer's decision. Payment of the citation serves as a "bond" until the appeals panel renders a final decision. The panel consists of representatives from the faculty, staff, and student body. Final disposition by the panel shall be understood to mean a ruling in which the panel affirms, modifies, or reverses a decision of the appeals officer. The decision of the appeals panel is final. The disposition of the "bond" will depend on the decision of the panel.

A. The appeals panel shall set forth the grounds on which the appealing party believes the decision was improper or inequitable. Written requests shall include all information required in the initial appeal plus any additional information the appellant wishes to include.

B. When the Parking and Transportation Services office is advised in writing of the decision rendered by the panel, the bond will be released and the proceeds will then either be refunded to the appealing party or used to pay all outstanding fees.

9. Failure to Pay Citation Fees: Failure to pay citations within 12 days of the date of the citation may result in:

A. Students may be barred from registration, re-admission, and have grades, degree, refunds, or official transcripts withheld pending payment of overdue charges.

B. Upon notice, violators may be subject to the impoundment of their vehicle(s) pending payment of overdue charges.

C. When unpaid charges are recorded, the PTS office shall notify the owner/operator of said vehicle. Such notification shall state that unless payment of all accumulated charges is received by the date specified, the recorded vehicle may be impounded or booted. 

D. Repeated Offenses: If any vehicle is cited for four or more violations of these regulations that are not paid or discharged through the appeals process in a timely manner, the director may place a violator's name or license plate number on a list of repeat offenders.

Once an individual or license plate number is placed on the list of repeat offenders and the owner has been properly notified, the vehicle is subject to immobilization (booting) or removal by towing. After a vehicle has been on the repeat offender list for ten days, the director of Parking and Transportation Services may cancel any parking permit issued to such vehicle without refund of any portion of the fee and campus driving privileges may be withdrawn. The names of students on the repeat offender list may be forwarded to Student Judicial Services and the names of employees on the repeat offender list may be forwarded to the appropriate department head.

E. Failure to resolve a citation within 42 days of issuance shall result in the addition of a $10 late fee.

10. Vehicle Immobilization or Impoundment: Any vehicle parked in violation of this regulation or a regulation issued hereunder may be immobilized (booted) or impounded (towed/relocated to a storage area). Violators who accumulate four outstanding citations, or have any outstanding citation over 120 days past due, may have their vehicle booted or towed. Vehicles may also be booted for specific violations. The university is not responsible for any damage to the vehicle during booting, towing, relocation, or storage.

A. Immobilization/Booting:

1. Notice of the application of a wheel boot shall be posted prominently on the vehicle on the driver's side of the front window, on the rear windshield, or on the driver's side window, depending on the type of vehicle.

2. The director of PTS may refuse to authorize release of the vehicle to the owner or custodian until the boot fee and all outstanding citations have been paid.

3. Upon payment, only PTS staff may remove wheel boots.

4. Vehicles booted for longer than 36 hours may be towed to a storage area. The owner/custodian of the vehicle shall be responsible for any booting, towing, or storage fees.

5. If the operator of the vehicle to be booted arrives before the boot is attached, the operator will be advised to proceed to a Parking and Transportation Services office to settle all outstanding fines and fees. Should the operator decide not to settle the delinquent fines and fees and choose to leave the space before the boot is attached, such operator will be issued an additional university citation and boot fee. The boot will be considered attached when the device has been affixed to the wheel of the vehicle and the boot applicator is standing.

6. Unauthorized boot removal will result in an additional citation plus the cost of damages (if applicable).

NOTE: University guards or parking enforcement assistants cannot accept cash, check, or credit card payments to remove boots in the field.

B. Impound/Relocation/Towing:

1. In addition to any charge that may be levied by the university for an offense, resulting in relocation or towing, the owner of a relocated or towed vehicle will also pay commercial wrecker service fees, storage charges, and/or relocation fees.

2. If the owner or driver of the vehicle appears on the scene before the tow truck, the vehicle will not be impounded.

3. If the owner or driver appears on the scene after the arrival of the tow truck and before the tow hook is attached to the vehicle, the operator will be advised to proceed to a Parking and Transportation Services office to settle all outstanding fines and fees. Should the operator decide not to settle the delinquent fines and fees and choose to leave the space before the tow hook is attached, such operator will be issued an additional university citation. The tow hook will be considered attached when the vehicle has been hooked completely to the tow truck.

4. If the vehicle owner or driver appears on the scene after the tow truck driver has made a hookup but before the vehicle is impounded, the vehicle will not be impounded. The vehicle owner or driver is required to pay the tow truck driver the hookup fee in lieu of towing.

5. When a vehicle is towed, PTS and UTPD shall be notified. This notification shall include the name and the phone number of the towing contractor. The director of PTS may refuse to authorize release of the vehicle to the owner or custodian until the cost of boot removal, storage fees, and all other outstanding fines/fees have been paid.

6. A daily storage fee based on a 24-hour clock shall be charged to the owner or custodian of a vehicle left at the towing compound or university storage facility. Storage fees vary for cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. The person claiming an impounded vehicle shall be required to provide proof of ownership as required by The University of Texas at Austin towing vendor. All towing, booting, and storage fees are subject to change.

7. Bicycle owners with registered permits, will be notified when bicycles have been impounded. Bicycles unclaimed 90 calendar days after the original date of impoundment shall be considered abandoned by the owner and shall be deemed university property for disposal purposes.

11. Suspension of Privilege to Drive and Park on Campus:  The loss of the privilege of driving or parking a motor vehicle on campus shall commence immediately following notification of suspension. Such notification shall state the term of the suspension and consequences for violation of the stated terms. The violations of the suspension shall be reported to the Dean of Students if the person is a student or to the appropriate dean, director, or administrative official for possible disciplinary action if the person is a faculty or staff member.

A. If a person whose privilege of driving or parking on campus has been suspended receives a university citation by reason of having a vehicle on campus during the period of their suspension, the period of suspension may be extended.

B. Suspensions may be appealed within 12 calendar days on the grounds that the imposition of such suspension is improper or will create serious and substantial hardship. No appeal shall be considered if there are any unpaid citations outstanding at the time such appeal is filed, unless special arrangements are made with the PTS Office.

C. A person receiving notice that their privilege of driving or parking on the campus has been suspended shall return without refund the remnants of the permit issued (or the entire hanging permit) to the PTS Office within 12 days after date of such notice. Failure to do so shall be reported to the Dean of Students if the person is a student or to the appropriate dean, director, or administrative official if the person is a faculty or staff member.

D. Failure to abide by these regulations may be the basis for disciplinary action for students and employees.