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POLICY 05:11:00

TRAFFIC AND PARKING REGULATIONS

Please refer to TBR Policy 07.05.00.00 Traffic and Parking Regulations.

Purpose
Parking and traffic regulations are established and enforced to assure the rights and privileges of visitors, students, faculty, staff, and others who operate motor vehicles on any Pellissippi State Campus and to facilitate and regulate the safety and orderly operation of motor vehicles on Pellissippi State owned or controlled property as well as provide parking facilities within the limits of available space.
Definitions

As used in this policy:

  • “Motor vehicle” means any self-propelled vehicle that is capable of exceeding twenty-five (25) miles per hour.
  • “Employee” means all faculty, executive, administrative, professional and support staff employed in the service of and whose compensation is paid by a TBR institution. “Employee does not include independent contractors who provide goods or services to the institution or student workers as defined in TBR Policy 5.01.01.00.
  • “Visitors” are defined as persons not connected with the College but who occasionally have business or other reasons to be on the campus.

Policy/Guideline
Pellissippi State believes that operating and parking a vehicle on campus are privileges. Vehicles operated on all property owned or controlled by Pellissippi State will comply with all traffic and parking signs and with the laws of the State of Tennessee, in accordance with T.C.A. 55, “Motor and Other Vehicles.”

  1. Administration of Policy
    1. Pellissippi Campus Police Department shall implement and enforce this policy.
    2. Any person operating a motor vehicle on Pellissippi State owned or controlled property is required to obey this policy as a condition of parking or operating a motor vehicle on property.
    3. The issuance of a parking permit does not guarantee a parking space. The inability to locate a designated parking space does not diminish the responsibility to park in accordance with this policy.
    4. The absence of “no parking” signs or painted curbs/lines does not imply that parking is allowed. Parking in designated lots is restricted to designated spaces only. Motor vehicles parked outside of designated spaces are subject to citation and towing, and the owner/operator may be subject to disciplinary or administrative action.
    5. The institution shall have no responsibility for theft or damage to any motor vehicle or its contents operated or parked on institution property or institution-controlled property.
    6. This policy is enforceable seven (7) days a week, twenty-four (24) hours a day, including holidays and breaks.
  2. Registration and Parking Permits
    1. All vehicles operated on any Pellissippi State Campus by faculty and staff must be properly registered and have a prescribed hang tag.
    2. The person to whom the vehicle is registered is responsible for the vehicle and all violations and citations involving the vehicle. If the person operating the vehicle is not the registrant, and a violation is committed, both the operator and the registrant may be fined.
    3. General parking citations will be issued by the Pellissippi State Campus Police beginning the first day of classes each semester. Fire Lane and HC accessible space violations will be ticketed throughout the year.
    4. The faculty and staff registration number must be visible to the eye. It may be hung on the mirror or placed on the dash.
    5. Registrants who are unable to drive their own vehicles on a particular day should leave explanatory notes displayed on the dashboard (along with their hang tag number or signature) to alert Campus Police.
    6. Event organizers may request designated visitor parking spaces by contacting campus police. Other visitors may park in designated open parking lots.
  3. Parking Zones
    1. Pellissippi State has clearly designated Faculty/Staff lots for which parking permits are required. There is also designated open parking for students and others who do not have a parking hang tag.
    2. Persons utilizing disabled parking spaces must have a visibly displayed state-issued disability license plate or disability placard.
    3. Motorcycles, motor bikes, and motor scooters are only permitted to park in parking spaces designated as “motorcycle parking” or in other regularly marked parking spaces. Operating these motor vehicles on any surface other than designated streets or parking areas is prohibited.
  4. Regulations
    1. The speed limit for all vehicles on Pellissippi State owned or controlled property will not exceed 15 mph except where otherwise posted.
    2. Pedestrians have the right of way over vehicle traffic at all times except where regulated by traffic control lights or police officers.
    3. Parking is permitted only in those areas designated for parking.
    4. Campus police officers may issue state tickets for violations of the Tennessee state vehicle laws.
    5. Individuals riding bicycles must comply with all applicable traffic rules, regulations, postings or directions.
  5. Traffic Violations
    1. Unauthorized possession of a parking permit
    2. Falsification of registration information
    3. Illegal use, unauthorized use, reproduction or alteration of a parking permit.
    4. Parking in an unmarked area (grass, sidewalks, road, etc.)
    5. Parking in a restricted area (, fire zone, loading zone, cross walks, etc.)
    6. Disability Parking violation, as defined by State law (including, but not limited to unauthorized use of a disabled parking space, ramp, plate or placard; parking a motor vehicle so that a portion of the motor vehicle encroaches into a disabled space in a manner that restricts or reasonably could restrict a person confined to a wheelchair from exiting or entering a motor vehicle properly parked within a disabled parking space). Fines for violating the disables parking laws cannot be suspended or waived where prohibited by T.C.A. § 55-21-108.
    7. Parking in a zone other than a designated parking area
    8. No or non-current faculty and staff parking hang tag or failure to display hang tag
    9. Parking or driving against the flow of traffic on a one way street
    10. Obstructing traffic, street, sidewalk, driveway, fire hydrant, building entrance or exit, or another motor vehicle
    11. Littering
    12. Blocking the path of another vehicle
  6. Moving Violations
    1. Speeding (15 mph limit)
    2. Excessive noise
    3. Reckless driving including but not limited to tailgating another vehicle.
    4. Failure to yield to pedestrians
    5. Failure to come to a complete stop at stop signs
    6. Failure to obey Campus Police
    7. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs will result in arrest and issue of state citation.
    8. Operating a vehicle causing loud or unnecessary noise, such as a loud muffler, horns, P.A. systems, or radio, etc.
  7. Penalties for Violation of Regulations
    1. For illegal parking in loading zones, parking out of classification – $15.00.
    2. For improper parking in loading zones, parking out of classification – $15.00.
    3. For illegal parking in fire zone – $15.00.
    4. The fine for disabled/handicapped parking violations is established by State law and will increase as needed to remain in compliance with State law.
    5. Motor vehicles illegally parked in these areas are subject to being towed.
    6. For exceeding posted speed limit, for driving on college property in a careless or reckless manner or for any other moving violation such as those listed in T.C.A. 59 – $15.00.
    7. Faculty and staff – For failure to display decal, failure to remove a decal when required, or transferal of decal to a non-registered vehicle – $15.00.
    8. Habitual or flagrant disregard of these regulations may respond in disciplinary action and/or revoked parking privileges. Vehicles parked on college property after parking privileges of the operator have been revoked will be towed from the property.
    9. All citations must be paid within 14 calendar days. Any person who fails to make payment or to request a hearing with the Parking Appeals Committee within this period will be charged a $5.00 late fee.
    10. A person receiving a citation must present the issued citation copy along with payment to the cashier.
  8. Enforcement
    1. Pellissippi State Campus Police, without advance notice, may tow, boot, or remove to a place of storage at the owner’s expense any motor vehicle that is parked in a fire lane, designated disabled parking space, spaces reserved for designated motor vehicles, or motor vehicles parked in such a manner as to impede the flow of traffic or disrupt the orderly affairs of the institution.
    2. Pellissippi State Campus Police may tow, boot, or remove to a place of storage at the owner’s expense any motor vehicle that has unpaid parking citations as long as advance notice and an opportunity to contest has been given. Windshield notices and/or other methods of notification will be used to provide the operator of the motor vehicle with advance notice of the intent to tow and the operator’s right to a contest.
    3. Pellissippi State Campus Police may revoke parking privileges for repeated and/or deliberate parking or moving violations.
    4. Any student who receives $100.00 or more in traffic and/or parking violations on Pellissippi State property or institution-controlled property during any semester may be subject to disciplinary action.
    5. Parking permits, if utilized, are issued to persons, not motor vehicles, and are required to be affixed to a motor vehicle. Permit holders are responsible for citations incurred with their permit. Persons will also be held liable for a violation incurred by a motor vehicle without a permit when that motor vehicle is reasonably shown to be associated with the person.
    6. Any student, employee, or visitor who has received an institution-issued citation may appeal the citation within fifteen (15) business days of the date of issuance. Citations issued by the institution and not appealed must be paid within fifteen (15) business days of the issuance date of the citation.
  9. Appeals of Citations
    A Parking Appeals Committee consisting of one student, one faculty member, and one staff member will hear cases where the person receiving a citation feels that there are reason(s) which may affect payment of the citation received. Committee members are chosen by Campus Police from a list of volunteer candidates.
  10. Procedures for Appeal
    1. The person receiving a citation may appeal online at www.pstcc.edu/police/appeal.php.
    2. The completed appeal request form must be received by Campus Police within 14 calendar days of the date of the citation.
    3. The appeals committee will hear information regarding the citation.
    4. The committee will make a determination of the case by secret ballot. The committee’s decision is final.
    5. Appeals will be heard the second Friday of each month at 2 p.m. at the Pellissippi Campus.
    6. Late Fee: When a person appeals a citation within the 14 calendar days appeal period, the $5.00 late fee will not be applied. If the citation is upheld by the Parking Appeals committee, the late fee will be applied if payment for the citation is not made to the Cashier’s Office within 24 hours of the appeals hearing.
    7. The failure of a person requesting an appeal to appear before the committee at the appropriate time will be considered a waiver of the right to a hearing.

Reviewed/Recommended President’s Council October 31, 2011
Approved President L. Anthony Wise, Jr. October 31, 2011
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, March 28, 2016
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise, Jr., March 28, 2016
Reviewed/Recommended: President’s Council, May 23, 2022
Approved: President L. Anthony Wise Jr., May 23, 2022