College Policy Number/Title:

• 63.09     Ethics and Conduct

Parking and traffic control procedures are designed to promote pedestrian and vehicular safety on campus and to ensure access at all times for emergency vehicles. Full- and part-time, position control/budgeted employees are required to display a current decal on the rear bumper of their vehicle as well as a plastic tag visible through the front windshield. The security office will issue the required vehicle identification for all full- and part-time position control/budgeted employees. Temporary employees must display a current, validated dashboard permit issued by the security office. Handicapped spaces may be used only by persons with special license plates or permits. Complete parking and traffic regulations are available in the security office.

All vehicle operators are subject to Howard Community College’s vehicle and traffic regulations while on campus. Any vehicle found to be in violation of the existing regulations is subject to receiving an HCC citation and possible removal at the owner’s or operator’s expense.

1. Howard Community College assumes no responsibility for damage to or loss of vehicles and/or private property while on campus.
2. Pedestrians will be given the right of way at all times.
3. Vehicle speed and manner of operations will be conducive to safe operation with consideration of weather and road conditions and pedestrian traffic. Maximum speed is 20 miles per hour.
4. All traffic signs must be obeyed at all times.  

Parking

Parking is defined as stationing a vehicle, with or without a driver in attendance, and irrespective of time of day or length of time the vehicle is stationed.

1. The responsibility of finding a legal parking space rests with the motor vehicle operator. It is impossible to mark with signs or paint curbs in all areas of the college where parking is prohibited. Parking is therefore restricted to designated parking areas only. Lack of space is not considered a valid excuse for violation of these regulations.
2. The fact that an operator parks a vehicle in violation of any regulation without receiving a citation does not mean that the applicable regulation is no longer in effect.
3. Parking regulations are in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
4. Vehicles may park only in the areas to which they are assigned and must display the appropriate decal indicating authorization.
5. Vehicles must park in such a manner as to use only one parking space.
6. All vehicles must be parked front end in only. An exception to this rule will be for spaces marked parallel to the curb.
7. Vehicle operators should notify the security office if they need to leave their vehicle in the college’s parking lot overnight. However, the college cannot be responsible for theft of or damage to the vehicle or to the contents of the vehicle.  

A limited number of parking spaces are available for temporarily handicapped individuals on a first-come first-serve basis. Application along with proper documentation for consideration for a temporary handicapped permit must be made in writing to the security office at Howard Community College. When all available spaces are assigned, the remaining applications will be placed on a waiting list in order of date received. The Director of Security will make final approval.

Any vehicle parked on campus 30 days or more risks being towed at the owner’s or operator’s expense. For towed vehicles, Howard Community College will do the following:

1. The security office will notify the watch commander of the Howard County police department by telephone before towing the vehicle.
2. Within 10 days of the vehicle being towed, the security office will attempt to determine the owner and send a certified letter to the owner indicating when and where the vehicle was towed. To determine the owner, the security office will first check the college’s student records. If the owner is still undetermined, the security office will attempt to determine the owner through the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles.
3. The security office will keep on file a record of all vehicles towed, which includes the date towed and the location where towed.  

Towed vehicles will not be released until all penalties owed the college are paid.

Parking citations are issued at the rate of one per violation. Each citation carries a penalty of $20. If payment is not made within 10 business days, penalty will be assessed at the rate of $25 per violation. Failure to pay violations may result in the vehicle being towed, and in students not receiving grades and transcripts and losing college privileges. If the violator is a college employee, the employee will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.

Persons who feel they have received a traffic citation unjustly may appeal in writing to HCC’s Director of Security.

Penalties must be paid to the college’s cashier's office.

Bicycle racks are placed in various locations throughout the campus and are to be used by all non-licensed two-wheel vehicles. Bicycles will not be brought into the buildings or secured to lamp posts, sign posts, or fences under any circumstances. Violators will be subject to confiscation of vehicles and a fine of $10.