College Policy Number/Title:

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. All students and full- and part-time employees are required to display a current plastic hangtag parking permit.  This permit is to be visibly displayed through the front windshield. The security office will issue the hangtags or stickers once the vehicle information and photo identification are produced by a student or employee.  Temporary employees and students working 18 hours a week or more on campus for the college must display a current, validated hangtag issued by the security office, which allows parking in staff lots.  Reserved parking area permits will be issued by the president's office.  Spaces designated by signs and blue, green, or yellow lines may be used only by persons with the proper hangtags, license plates, stickers, or permits. Blue lines designate disabled spaces, green lines designate low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles and carpool parking, and yellow lines designate staff spaces.

A listing of low emission and high efficiency (LEHE) vehicles is maintained by the US Green Car Council.  To apply for the (LEHE) vehicle sticker, documentation (i.e., vehicle manual) must be provided to the security office.  Security will issue stickers for approved vehicles that must be placed on the right rear bumper.

Carpool spaces are reserved for vehicles with at least three occupants and display a valid car pool permit from the sustainabilityoffice.  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.  Vehicle and traffic regulations include the following:

  • Pedestrians must be given the right of way at all times.
  • Vehicle speed and manner of operations should be conducive to safe operation with consideration of weather and road conditions and pedestrian traffic. Maximum speed is 20 miles per hour.
  • All traffic signs must be obeyed at all times.  

Howard Community College assumes no responsibility for damage to or loss of vehicles or private property while on campus.

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.  The responsibility of finding a legal parking space rests with the motor vehicle operator.  Parking regulations include the following:

  • Parking regulations are in effect 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
  • Parking is limited to designated parking areas only, as it is impossible to mark all areas of the college where parking is prohibited.  Lack of space is not considered a valid excuse for violation of these regulations.
  • Vehicles may park only in the areas to which they are assigned and must display the appropriate hang-tag permit or dashboard temporary pass indicating authorization.
  • Vehicles must park in such a manner as to use only one parking space.
  • Vehicle operators must notify the security office if they need to leave their vehicle in the college’s parking lot overnight. However, the college is not responsible for theft of or damage to the vehicle or to the contents of the vehicle.  

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.

Towing Vehicles

Vehicles parked in college parking lots after 1:00 a.m. without prior authorization from security, parked in fire zones, no-parking areas, or improperly parked in handicapped or reserved spaces, will be subject to towing at the owner's expense.  Prior to the towing of the vehicle, the college's security office will notify the duty officer of the Howard County police department by telephone.  Within 10 days of the vehicle being towed, the college's 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 college's security office will first check the college’s records. If the owner is still undetermined, the college's security office will attempt to determine the owner through the Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles.  The security office will keep on file a record of all vehicles towed, which includes the date towed and the location where towed.  

Citations

Each citation carries a fine of $50. Failure to pay violations may result in the vehicle being towed, 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.

Appeals

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

Payment

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

Reserving Parking Spaces

Events for which spaces will be held for larger groups must be approved by president's team.  The requestor should ask their area vice president to take the event reserved parking request to president's team for approval.  Once president's team approves the request, the vice president or designee will notify the requestor.

For Lot E only, requests for three or fewer reserved spaces are routed directly to the president's office for approval.  Requests for four or more reserved spaces in lot E are routed to the area vice president.

Bicycles/Skateboarding/Rollerblading

Bicycle racks are placed in various locations throughout campus and are to be used by all non-licensed, two-wheel vehicles. Students will not be permitted to bring bicycles into buildings or secure them to lampposts, signposts or fences under any circumstances. Staff members are permitted to disassemble the front wheel of the bicycle and secure it in their office.  Under no circumstances will bikes be left in hallways or stairwells.  Violators will be subject to confiscation of vehicles and a fine of $50.

Skateboarding, rollerblading, and similar activities are not permitted on campus.

Effective Date:  03/08/13