The following tips/facts are meant to assist faculty, staff, and students with common questions that they may have. If there are specific questions or concerns please contact the parking services office at 227-7275 between the hours of 8-5, Monday through Friday.
DISABILITY PARKING
N.C.G.S. 20-37.6(a) provides that: "Any vehicle that is driven by or is transporting a person who is disabled and that displays a distinguishing license plate, a removable windshield placard, or a temporary removable windshield placard may be parked for unlimited periods in parking zones restricted as to the length of time parking is permitted. Any qualifying vehicle may park in spaces designated as restricted to vehicles driven by or transporting persons with special needs."
A Disability Placard issued by DMV should be displayed by hanging from rearview mirror. Information on obtaining a Disability Placard from DMV can be found at http://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/vehicle/plates/handicapped/ . Notify the Parking Services Office (828-227-7275) with the placard number issued by the DMV. Please remember, DMV disability placards are assigned to individuals. Vehicles found displaying a disability placard that is not registered to the vehicle operator will be subject to ticketing for Illegal Use of Disability Placard, a $250 fine.
Unauthorized parking in disability spaces and/or reserved spaces is strictly prohibited for ANY reason. Individuals with disabilities who wish to avail themselves of parking permitted under N.C.G.S. 20-37.6(a) must obtain from the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles ("DMV") and properly display a "distinguishing license plate" or "a removable windshield placard or a temporary removable windshield placard" pursuant to N.C.G.S. 20-37.6(b) and (c). Applications for these license plates and windshield placards may be obtained from the nearest office of the DMV. Pursuant to N.C.G.S. 20-37.6(cl), the initial application to the DMV must be "accompanied by a certification of a licensed physician, ophthalmologist, or optometrist or of the Division of Services for the Blind that the applicant requires special parking.
Violations of these provisions are punishable with penalties of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00)," and a law enforcement officer "may cause a vehicle parked in violation of this section to be towed."
All valid disability parking placards and license plates, as defined by NC G.S. 20-37.6, will be honored on campus. However, disability parking placards and/or license plates may not be used in lieu of a valid parking permit. Vehicles displaying a disability parking placard or license plate may park in any space designated as disability parking or, if none is available, in any faculty/staff or student space.
Emergency or fire lanes, service vehicle spaces, visitor spaces, reserved spaces, and no parking zones may not be used for disability parking
PARKING TIPS
Register Your Vehicle: http://www.wcu.edu/9005.asp
Familiarize yourself with the Parking and Traffic Regulations. Lack of knowledge is not an excuse for committing parking violations
You are responsible for any parking violations pertaining to your vehicle, regardless of whom you allow to operate the vehicle.
Inability to find a legally marked parking space does not constitute an excuse for parking illegally.
The absence of "NO PARKING" signs/pavement markings does not mean that parking is allowed. Any area not specifically designated by pavement markings as a parking space shall be considered a "no parking area".
Hazard lights and/or notes left on vehicles do not permit parking in unauthorized areas, no matter how short the time period. (This action attracts parking enforcement personnel.)
All persons visiting a faculty member, staff member or student should obtain a visitor parking permit when on the University campus.
Spaces posted as reserved for a particular person, department or vehicle are reserved 24 hours per day, seven (7) days per week.
Each person operating and parking a vehicle on the campus shall be responsible for doing so in accordance with the established parking and traffic regulations.
Vehicles must park in the area appropriate for the displayed permit.
Unauthorized parking in disability spaces and/or reserved spaces is strictly prohibited for ANY reason.
Lost or stolen permits may be replaced for $5.00. The person the permit is registered to must fill out a lost/stolen permit report in person at the Parking Services Office.
A faculty member, staff member or student displaying a counterfeit or altered campus parking permit or a campus parking permit issued to another vehicle registrant will pay a campus fine of $100.00. If the parking permit is listed as stolen, the situation may be referred to the University Police Department. Criminal charges may apply for the possession/use of a stolen permit.
A faculty member, staff member or student may not register a vehicle that is owned or used by another faculty member, staff member or student. Violation of this rule is false registration and constitutes a campus fine of $100.00, as well as loss of campus parking privileges. Violator(s) will be required to surrender the parking permit to the University Parking Services with no refund.
Parking at the business area known as the "Mini Mall" is exclusively provided for patrons while conducting business in the establishments. You cannot leave your vehicle parked at the business area to go to class/work. (15 Minute Limit).
If two (2) or more members of a family are employed or enrolled as students and use multiple parking spaces, each automobile must display a valid parking permit.
Parking permits for students are mailed for the fall semester only. July 1st to August 1st.
After August 1st permits can be picked up at the One Stop located in Killian Annex and at the Parking Services office.
IMMOBILIZATION (BOOTING): The placing of a mechanical wheel lock (boot) on a vehicle to prevent movement of the vehicle.
Parking Enforcement may immobilize vehicles in lieu of towing. The vehicle operator will be required to report to the Parking Services office to obtain the release of the vehicle. Failure to report to the Parking Services office prior to 5:00pm on the date of immobilization may result in the vehicle being towed off campus at the owner's expense. A wheel lock fee of $50.00 will be charged to the student account. Additional towing fees may apply. All parking fines and fees are paid at One Stop (227-7170)
*Note: The penalty for unauthorized removal or damage of the immobilization device (boot) shall be equal to the cost of repair or replacement of the device. ($500.00)
PERMIT FEES
Permanent Full-time Faculty/Staff – ($96.00 annually/$8.00 per month) Parking permit fees will be payroll deducted on a monthly basis. Fall 2013/2014
Temporary and part-time employees – ($96.00 annually) Payment must be made in full by credit card in the Parking Services office at the time permit is purchased. Fall 2013/2014
Students – ($96.00 annually) Parking permit fees will be charged to student's university account when the vehicle registration is submitted. Fall 2013/2014
Reserved Spaces - ($175.00 annually/$14.58 per month) Parking permit fees will be payroll deducted on a monthly basis. Fall 2013/2014
Motorcycle Permit - ($32.00 annually) Fall 2013-2014
INSURANCE · The State of North Carolina requires that all persons requesting parking privileges on the campus must certify that their vehicle(s) are insured at or higher than the levels mandated in North Carolina General Statute 20-279.1(11). Prior to a permit being issued, the applicant must provide the insurance company name and policy number.
Western Carolina University assumes no liability or responsibility for damage to or theft of any vehicle parked or in operation on all University owned leased or controlled property.
Registration of a vehicle at the University requires accurate information. Giving of false information constitutes false registration and will result in a campus fine of $100.00 as well as loss of campus parking privileges. Violator(s) will be required to surrender the parking permit to the Parking Services with no refund.
VISITORS
VISITOR: Any person on the campus who is not classified as faculty, staff or student.
Students, Faculty/Staff at Western Carolina University cannot park in the "Visitors" spaces.
Visitors can obtain a visitors pass at the Parking Services Office. 828-227-7275.
Appeals
SGA Traffic Court (828-227-7299) usually meets on Monday evening in the University Center. SGA office location Room 216 University Center.
The following violations are not appealable to the SGA Traffic Court:
Tows
Wheel Lock
Parking in a Disability Space/or hashed out area adjacent to disability space designated for wheelchairs.
Blocking a Fire Hydrant.
Parking in a Fire Lane.
Citations for moving violations (skateboarding,speeding, stop signs, non parking offenses)
However, you may appeal to the Parking, Traffic/Safety Subcommittee. http://www.wcu.edu/WebFiles/PDFs/police_appeal_form_faculty_staff.pdf. You must print the form and bring it the Parking Office along with the citation.
State Citations are not appealable to the SGA Traffic Court, or WCU Parking, Traffic, and Safety Subcommittee.
Cat-Tran: 828-227-8726
The purpose of the Cat-Tran campus shuttle service is to enhance campus safety while minimizing traffic congestion. Cat-Tran campus shuttle service operates on campus so there is no need to move your car across campus between classes.
For the safety and convenience of all riders, buses follow designated routes and schedules at all times. Please plan departures and returns carefully based on the bus schedule. Please do not ask drivers to make unscheduled stops.
Jackson County Transit
http://jacksoncountytransit.com/
Jackson County transit is an off campus shuttle service.
Thanks,
Parking Services Office staff