Traffic and Parking Violation Regulations

The Auxiliary Services/Parking and Transportation Office and the University Police Department share the responsibility to enforce all Traffic and Parking Regulations approved by the Board of Trustees. Questions concerning these regulations should be directed to the Auxiliary Services/Parking and Transportation Office.

Click here to view the complete version of the 2008-2009 UNCW Traffic & Parking Regulations.

Civil Penalties

The traffic and parking violations listed below are considered civil offenses, and applicable fines are assessed and collected through established University debt collection procedures.

Fines may be paid at the University Cashier’s Office.

Prohibited Vehicle Parking

1. Stopping or parking so as to block the movement.
   
   
2. Parking so as to obstruct the flow of traffic or endanger life and/or property.
   
   
3. Parking of a vehicle in an area reserved for a special event as designated by signs or traffic enforcement personnel.
   
   
4. Using a designated parking place for dormant storage.
   
   
5. Parking on a sidewalk.
   
   
6. Parking within an intersection or crosswalk or in front of a driveway.
   
   
7. Parking on the grass or landscape areas unless directed by a Traffic and Parking Officer.
   
   
8. Parking on the approaches or other portions of a parking area which are not clearly marked for parking.
   
   
9. Blocking fire hydrants, trash receptacles (dumpsters), fire lanes and service entrances.
   
   
10. When a particular angle or manner of parking is indicated in a parking area or parking lot by signs or markings, no person shall park a vehicle except at the angle or in the manner so indicated, and no vehicle shall be parked in such as manner as to occupy more than one space indicated by lines, signs, or markings for one vehicle.
    
    
11. Parking in a space or along a curb for a period of time longer than allowed by signs of other markings.
    
    
12. Parking in a space designated for handicapped parking without a proper permit.
    
    
13. Parking in a space reserved for visitors without being a visitor to the campus.
    
    
14. Parking of a vehicle in an area reserved for construction parking as designated by signs or barriers.
    

Parking Tickets

The individual in whose name the vehicle is registered with the university is responsible for clearing parking tickets and paying assessed fines.

Parking tickets are cleared in accordance with the following procedures:

• Parking tickets must be taken to the University Cashier’s Office for disposition within seven (7) days of the citation issue date.  The parking fine must be on the student’s account before the student can pay the citation.
  
  
• If there is no response to the reminder within seven (7) days, the assessed fine is subject to established debt collection procedures. Until such time as the fine is paid, the registered owner/operator (student) cannot enroll for future courses or obtain a transcript of academic work completed at UNCW.

Booting Vehicles

Individuals committing five (5) or more traffic and/or parking violations or found displaying an altered or lost/stolen decal (fine $270) within an academic year may have their vehicle “booted”.  First, the individual will receive a Boot Warning. If they do not contact the Auxiliary Services/Parking and Transportation Office and continue to violate, they will receive a Boot Ticket with the applied boot. The applied boot will be removed after meeting with the Auxiliary Services/Parking and Transportation Office.   Continued violations will result in booting/towing.  Disciplinary action will be administered by the Dean of Students office.

Towing

The Department of University Police is authorized to remove from the campus, to a storage area, at the owner’s expense any vehicle parking in violation of the Traffic and Parking Regulations. As a matter of enforcement policy, University Police Officers will not tow a vehicle except in the following circumstances, without specific approval from the Director of the Department of University Police.

1. The operator’s authorization to operate a vehicle on campus has been revoked and the operator has been duly notified of this revocation by personal service, campus mail, or first class mail.
   
   
2. The vehicle is blocking a curb cut designed for wheelchairs.
   
   
3. The vehicle is parked in a fire lane or other area marked with appropriate reserved parking signage.
   
   
4. The vehicle does not have a permit, has remained unmoved for a period of 72 hours and the owner cannot be contacted or refuses to remove the car after being contacted.
   
   
5. The vehicle is blocking traffic or another car and the operator of the other car wishes to leave.
   
   
6. The vehicle is parked in a non-parking area and blocking a trash dumpster.
   
   
7. The vehicle has been booted before and continues to violate parking rules and regulations.

The vehicle is considered towed once the tower has been called and the owner or operator must pay the towing fee to the tower before the vehicle can be released.

Towing and storage fees constitute a lien against the vehicle enforceable in the manner prescribed by law or enforcement of mechanics and materialmen’s liens.

Whenever a vehicle is towed, the officer authorizing the tow shall conduct an inventory inspection of the contents of the vehicle to record anything of value. Contraband, evidence of a crime, or evidence of the identity of a person committing a crime found while conducting this inventory inspection shall be admissible in University Administrative Judicial Hearings or the General Court of Justice as allowed by law.

Whenever a vehicle with a valid registration plate is towed, the officer authorizing the tow shall immediately notify the last known registered owner of the vehicle for the following:

1. A description of the vehicle.
2. A place where the vehicle is stored.
3. The violation with which the owner is charged, if any.
4. The procedure the owner must follow to have the vehicle returned to him.
5. The procedure the owner must follow to request a probable cause hearing on the towing.

This notice shall, if feasible, be given by telephone. Whether or not the owner is reached by telephone, notice shall be mailed to his last known address unless he or his agents waive this notice is writing.

The owner or any other person entitled to claim possession of the vehicle may request in writing a hearing to determine if probable cause existed for the towing. The request shall be filed with the Magistrate of New Hanover County at the New Hanover County Law Enforcement Center. The Magistrate shall set the hearing within 72 hours of his receiving the request. The owner, the person who requested the hearing if someone other than the owner, the tower and the person who authorized the towing shall be notified of the time and place of hearing.

The owner, the tower, the person who authorized the towing and any other interested parties may present evidence at the hearing. The person authorizing the towing and the tower may submit an affidavit in lieu of appearing personally but the affidavit does not preclude that person from also testifying.

The only issue at this hearing is whether or not cause existed for the towing. If the Magistrate finds that probable cause did not exist, the tower’s lien is extinguished. Any aggrieved party may appeal the Magistrate’s decision to District Court. If the Magistrate or Judge finds no probable cause existed for the towing, the Department of University Police shall provide compensate to the tower.

Vehicle Restrictions

Vehicles shall not be parked upon any street, parking space, parking lot, parking area, alley or driveway for the principal purpose of:

A.     Displaying the vehicle for sale.

B.     Washing, greasing, or repairing the vehicle except in the case of repairs necessitated by an emergency and except when permission is granted by the Director of University Police.

C.     Storage that is not incident to the bona fide use and operation of the vehicle.

D.     Storage of any detached trailer or semi-trailer when the towing unit has been disconnected, except when permission is granted by the Director of University Police.

Things you NEED to KNOW

• Parking citations for no decal/permit begin issuance 48 hours after classes begin. Citations for other violations are issued 24/7.
  
  
• Parking regulations and permit enforcement is twenty-four (24) hours per day – every day (365/366 days per year).
  
  
• A parking permit is required to park on campus or in the Park-and-Ride lots at any time (including exams).
  
  
• Students who do not pay their citation tickets cannot enroll in future courses or obtain a transcript of academic work completed at UNCW until their fine(s) are paid in full.
  
  
• Individuals committing five (5) or more traffic and/or parking violations within an academic year may have their vehicle “booted.”
  
  
• You are responsible for your vehicle. If a friend from out of town drives your car on campus and gets a ticket, the fine will go on your student account.
  
  
• Permits for vehicles must be affixed and clearly visible on the outside bottom left rear windshield or left rear bumper.  Permits on motorcycles must be affixed in a manner so as to be readily visible.
  
  
• A vehicle is not registered until the decal is affixed to the vehicle.
  
  
• Lack of convenient parking is not a valid excuse for a violation!

• LOST or STOLEN parking permits must be reported to the University Police. Replacements will be issued at the Auxiliary Services/ Parking and Transportation Office.  A police report is required to obtain a replacement permit.
  
  
• Parking during prime time (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) outside your class is difficult. Leave time to park and walk from perimeter.
  
  
• Disabled vehicles must be reported to University Police in person or by phone.
  
  
• If you receive a ticket and have a valid appeal with documentation, you may appeal within seven calendar days. Written appeals to the Parking and Traffic Citation Board are filed in the Auxiliary Services/Parking and Transportation Office. ALL DECISIONS OF THE BOARD ARE FINAL.
  
  
• Resident lots are designated by color (Blue, Teal, Gold, and Brown). The color of your permit indicates your designated zone. Resident students must park in assigned resident zones.
  
  
• Parking lots designated as Overflow are open to all residents with a current permit.
  
  
• Resident students may use commuter parking lots only after 4 p.m. until 7 a.m.!
  
  
• Sitting in your car waiting for a parking space is called Queuing and is a $25.00 violation.