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  4. Vehicle Operations Policy

Vehicle Operations Policy: 2024-25

Whitworth’s campus has been designed as a walking campus. The Vehicle Operations Policy provides guidelines for the privilege of operating a motor vehicle on campus. The purpose of this policy is to reduce pedestrian risk, promote safe vehicle operation, and generally regulate traffic and parking on the Whitworth campus. These rules and regulations are designed to promote safety and mobility and not to generate revenue.

1. The Short Version

Campus parking and traffic regulations comply with Washington state motor vehicle laws and Spokane County ordinances. These rules apply equally to all faculty, staff, students and visitors, and are in effect on all Whitworth properties, including campus roads, parking areas, improved and unimproved areas, and fields.

Driving

  • The maximum speed limit on campus is 15 mph. Lower speed limits are in effect when posted or if road conditions warrant.
  • Pedestrians have the right of way at all intersections and pedestrian crossings except in cases involving emergency vehicles.
  • Motorcycles and motor scooters are considered engine-driven vehicles and may not be operated on walks intended for foot traffic.
  • No unlicensed or improperly licensed motorized vehicle may be operated on the Whitworth campus (other than university service vehicles).
  • The university reserves the right to close or modify roadways for special circumstances; always observe posted signs and directives from security officers.

Parking

  • Parking is permitted only in marked (by concrete block or striping paint) parking spaces in designated parking areas.
  • All campus parking lots are designated for an intended constituency, and many spaces are additionally restricted. Do not park in spaces or lots designated for constituencies other than the one allowed by your parking decal (ADA-permitted vehicles may park in any ADA space regardless of lot designated). Do not remain past 2 a.m. or arrive before 5 a.m. in lots designated for no overnight parking.
  • Students and employees are required to register each vehicle that they will operate or park on campus and to properly display an unexpired decal. "Campus" includes Whitworth Neighborhoods houses and all other Whitworth-owned or -operated properties. 
  • Campus visitors must obtain a temporary parking permit before parking on campus, even when parking in a visitor spot. These are available through student life, facilities services, security, the HUB info desk or the program sponsoring their visit.
  • The university reserves the right to prohibit or restrict parking on university property for special circumstances; always observe posted signs and directives from security officers.

Assistance

  • Security should be notified immediately if a vehicle becomes inoperable on campus.
  • Security officers can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 509.777.4444. Security officers are available to perform minor roadside assistance and are always glad to answer questions.

Administration & Enforcement

  • The security director and officers shall 1) administer and enforce campus traffic and parking regulations, 2) issue citations, 3) patrol the university campus, 4) keep records of violations and fines, and 5) process citation appeals and requests to release impounded vehicles.
  • The director of facilities services, along with the parking task force, shall 1) review the administration and enforcement of these regulations, 2) recommend revisions of the campus traffic and parking policy and 3) supervise installation of appropriate traffic signs.
  • All rules are enforceable with fines; only security officers have the authority to issue citations.
  • Whitworth reserves the right to boot or tow away any illegally or improperly parked vehicle at owner/operator expense at any time. As a general rule, vehicles with two or more unresolved parking citations in a given school year are subject to booting, and vehicles with four or more parking citations are subject to towing. Vehicles (or individuals) with 10 or more citations of any kind in a given academic year may lose parking privileges.

2. More on the Registration of Vehicles

  1. All personal vehicles parked on campus must be registered with security services. Faculty, staff and students should properly display a valid parking permit on their personal vehicle (including motorcycles) at all times.
  2. Parking decals must correspond with their owner's current classification (faculty/staff, contractor, student-general, and student-graduate & CS) and must only be displayed on the vehicle to which they are registered.
  3. You can view your current vehicle registration online anytime. Keep your vehicle registration current by reporting a change of status or change of vehicle including license plate or color. Destroy or relocate your decal when disposing of a vehicle. Email parking@whitworth.edu or call 509.777.3269 with changes or corrections.
  4. Vehicle registrations are submitted (and paid, if applicable) through a secure web form. 

Traditional Undergraduate Students

  1. The cost for parking is $125 per vehicle per academic year. 
  2. Decals will be available for pick-up at the HUB information desk within five business days of payment completion. You will be required to show photo ID and sign for the decal. 
  3. Decals, once picked up, are nonrefundable. Vehicle registration cancelled prior to 10th day may be refunded in full if the unused decal is unclaimed or returned. 
    1. Exception: Students who are withdrawing from classes prior to 10th day may surrender their decal, purchased that same semester, for a full refund. Please note that the vehicle registration system is not linked to student financial services, so refund requests must be made directly to parking@whitworth.edu.
    2. A student returning to active enrollment after time away (hiatus or withdrawal) may resume use of their retained parking decal until the printed expiration date. 
    3. Decals not physically surrendered at the security office are not eligible for refund. 
  4. Treat your decal like cash! Upon receipt, immediately install it securely inside the assigned vehicle's windshield (driver's side, bottom corner). 
  5. If you switch to a different vehicle before your decal expires, relocate the decal to your new vehicle and update your vehicle registration promptly. If you are unable to remove the decal without damaging it, surrender what you can (including at least half of the numbers) for a no-cost replacement. If you forget to pull the decal out, you will need to purchase a replacement. 
  6. If a decal is lost or stolen, report the loss immediately to parking@whitworth.edu so the decal can be invalidated. Replacement decals are available for purchase with proof of loss; you may only request one replacement per registration. 

Graduate, Doctoral & Continuing Studies Students 

  1. Most graduate and continuing studies students receive decals at no charge. Decals will be sent to program offices for distribution within five business days of submission.  

Faculty, Staff & Contractors 

  1. Employees, including adjunct and visiting faculty, and contractors are required to register their vehicle(s) immediately upon employment at Whitworth. Decals will be sent via campus mail within five business days of submission. 

Temporary Vehicles & Visitors 

  1. A vehicle being operated on campus only temporarily due to short-term circumstances (e.g., regular vehicle is in the shop) may be eligible for a temporary parking permit. Please contact security, student life or the HUB info desk to request a permit. 
  2. Campus visitors should obtain a temporary parking permit before parking on campus, even when parking in a visitor spot. These are readily available through student life, facilities services, security, the HUB info desk or the program sponsoring their visit. 

3. More on the Parking Policy

Campus parking lots are assigned by constituency, and vehicles parked on campus must be in a lot that corresponds to their registration decal. The categories are:

  • General parking
  • General parking (no overnight)*
  • Employee only (no overnight)**
  • Visitor parking

Please refer to the parking areas map.

*Do not remain past 2 a.m. or arrive before 5 a.m. to lots designated as no overnight parking.

**All parking lots are open to everyone after 5 p.m. On Weeknights between 5 p.m. and 2 a.m., students and visitors may park in employee-only lots. 

Additionally, individual parking spaces may be restricted (by sign or paint) for a variety of purposes. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Visitor*
  • 15-minute or loading
  • ADA (state-issued permit required)
  • Service/Delivery*
  • Electric vehicle charging
  • Motorcycle

Please refer to the parking space types map.

*Visitor spaces are for Whitworth’s guests (whose vehicles are displaying a temporary permit) only. Service/delivery spaces are for facilities personnel and their vendors only. Students and employees may not park in these restricted spaces.

Additionally, the following rules apply:

  1. Parking is permitted only in marked parking spaces in designated parking areas; spaces are marked by a concrete parking block and/or by striping paint. Do not park in walkways, crosswalks, fire lanes, within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, around waste collection points, in planted areas or in otherwise restricted locations.
  2. Do not park in restricted spaces or in lots designated for constituencies other than your own. Whitworth Neighborhoods houses' private driveways are for use by (registered) residents of that house; non-residents may be cited as may unregistered vehicles.
  3. Unless otherwise marked, all roads and driveways on campus are considered fire lanes; as such, parking in them is strictly prohibited. (Curb color or lack thereof has no bearing on this.) Parking in a fire lane will result in a citation and a $100 fine. Additionally, vehicles may be immediately towed at owner/operator expense.
  4. Parking in a disabled-only space without the required state-issued permit or in an accessible aisle will result in a citation and a $200 fine. Additionally, violators are subject to citation from the Spokane County Sheriff (up to $450), and vehicles may be immediately towed at owner/operator expense.
  5. The university reserves the right to prohibit or restrict parking on university property for special circumstances; always observe posted signs and directives from security officers.

4. More on Enforcement

General

  1. Please review and obey all campus parking rules. Non-compliance may result in your vehicle being impounded or your campus parking privileges being suspended! The Whitworth University Security Department is authorized to remove, immobilize (boot), impound and/or enter motor vehicles on university property at owner’s expense.
  2. All rules are enforceable with fines; only security officers have the authority to issue citations.
  3. A vehicle may be cited per day per occurrence, so a vehicle left in the same (disallowed) space on consecutive days, or in different (disallowed) spaces on the same day, may receive multiple similar citations.
  4. Whitworth reserves the right to boot or tow away any illegally or improperly parked vehicle at owner/operator expense at any time. As a general rule, vehicles with two or more unresolved parking citations in a given school year are subject to booting, and vehicles with four or more citations are subject to towing.
  5. Any individual or vehicle with 10 or more citations of any kind in a given academic year may lose parking privileges on campus for the remainder of that year; campus security reserves the right to confiscate any Whitworth parking permit attached to such a vehicle(s) with no refund to the owner. Un-permitted vehicles with multiple citations already on record are immediately subject to booting or impoundment.
  6. Individuals suspected of operating a vehicle under the influence of any drug or alcohol will be reported to local authorities.

Citations

  1. The fines associated with a parking or traffic citation are automatically billed to students’ accounts or employees’ payrolls.
  2. Types and amounts:
    1. General parking violations – $30
      1. Parked in a restricted space (e.g., visitor or service)
      2. Exceeded time limit
      3. Parked in employee-only lot
      4. Parked in no parking area
      5. Parked in reserved area
      6. Unauthorized removal of barricade
      7. Blocking dumpster
      8. Blocking legally parked vehicle
      9. Parked facing flow of traffic
      10. Parked in road or driveway
      11. Parked on sidewalk or crosswalk
      12. Double parked (over line)
    2. Parked in or blocking ADA (disabled) space* – $200
    3. Parked or driving in fire lane* – $100
    4. General moving violations – $50
      1. Driving over the posted speed limit
      2. Driving "off road"
      3. Driving through/around signs or barricades
      4. Failure to stop or yield right of way 
    5. Vehicle registration – $150
      1. Failure to register a vehicle
      2. Failure to properly display permit
      3. Falsifying, forging or altering a permit
    6. Immobilization due to noncompliance (boot fee) – $50 
    7. Unauthorized removal of wheel boot – $100

*Vehicles cited for parking in fire lanes or ADA spaces are additionally subject to citation by the Spokane County sheriff (up to $450) and may be subject to immediate towing at owner/operator expense.

Booting

  1. Any security officer may order the immobilization of a vehicle under the following circumstances:
    1. Two* or more unresolved parking citations
    2. Parking in an ADA (disabled) space
    3. Parking in a fire lane
    4. Unauthorized parking in a reserved space
    5. Unauthorized parking in the traveled portion of the roadway
    6. Unauthorized parking in no parking/tow zone/reserved areas
    7. Vehicle abandonment on university property
    8. Vehicles not legally parked or a public safety hazard
    9. Displaying a reported lost, stolen or fraudulent parking permit
    10. Failure to move an illegally parked vehicle upon the order of a security officer
  2. A vehicle may alternately be immobilized for informational purposes or security/safety reasons. Informational immobilizations are not subject to additional (boot) fees.
  3. The citation(s) accompanying a wheel boot and/or the boot removal instruction sheet will contain instructions on how to get the boot removed. Do not try to move a vehicle while booted.
  4. After a vehicle has been immobilized, the owner/operator has up to three business days to contact the security department to arrange for removal of the boot.
    1. After three business days with no contact, the vehicle may be towed and impounded, and the registered owner will be responsible for all associated fees (including boot removal fee).
    2. Any attempt to move the vehicle or remove the boot before arrangements have been made with university security may result in towing and impoundment; the registered owner will be responsible for all associated fees (including boot removal fee).
  5. Any person(s) who tampers with, damages or defaces an "immobilizer" (wheel boot) will be held responsible for damages to university property and may be formally charged. The responsible person shall be reported to the associate dean of standards & compliance.
    1. Wheel boot replacement cost is $100 regardless of the extent of damages.
  6. In cases involving outstanding fines or fees owed to the university, the vehicle owner/operator must reconcile fines with the accounting office before campus parking privileges are reinstated.

*The second citation will contain a warning that, in the event of the issuance of a third citation, the vehicle will concurrently be booted. After three such citations, the [student] owner/operator will have to meet with the associate dean of community standards & compliance.

Towing

  1. Any security officer may order the removal of a vehicle under the following circumstances:
    1. Two* or more unresolved parking citations on a previously booted vehicle.
    2. When a vehicle has been immobilized (booted) for more than three business days with no contact from the owner/operator.
    3. Parking in an ADA (disabled) space, access path or fire lane.
    4. Unauthorized parking in the traveled portion of the roadway.
    5. When a vehicle is illegally parked, restricting traffic or creating a traffic hazard (i.e., roadways, curbs, bus lanes, etc.).
    6. When a vehicle is parked in designated “no overnight parking” area hindering snow removal.
    7. When a vehicle is parked illegally in service or loading area preventing delivery of goods.
    8. When vehicles are parked in violation of an athletic or campus event restriction.
    9. Failure to move an illegally parked vehicle upon the order of a security officer.
    10. When a vehicle is considered to be abandoned. (i.e., not displaying a state license plate or state registration sticker) or otherwise considered a derelict vehicle.
    11. Other circumstances that are deemed necessary or appropriate by university or civil authorities.
  2. A vehicle may additionally be impounded for security/safety reasons or other circumstances deemed necessary and appropriate by university and/or civil authority.
  3. Towing fees and storage are established by the towing vendor. The current maximum fees are $342 for towing and $89 per day for storage. The owner/operator has up to 20 days to claim their vehicle from the impound lot and is responsible for settling all fees directly with the vendor.
  4. In cases involving outstanding fines or fees owed to the university, the vehicle owner/operator must reconcile fines with the accounting office before campus parking privileges are reinstated.

*The second citation on a previously booted vehicle will contain a warning that, in the event of the issuance of a third citation, the vehicle will concurrently be towed. After three such citations, the [student] owner/operator will have to meet with the associate dean of community standards & compliance. After booting and towing, additional citations may result in loss of campus parking privileges.

Appeals

  1. Citations contain instructions on submitting an appeal. In order for an appeal to be considered...
    1. The vehicle must be registered.
    2. The initial appeal must be made within 15 days of the violation(s).
    3. The appellant must submit an electronic citation appeal.

Appeals will be reviewed within 15 business days of receipt, and the appellant will be notified as to the outcome of the appeal.

5. Disabled Vehicles & Long-Term Parking

  1. No vehicle may be left on campus for longer than 30 days while the owner/operator is absent from campus for any reason without written prior approval of the security director (509.777.3712).
  2. Vehicles left on campus during an academic break must be parked in an approved area as instructed by the housing office; check with residence life, facilities services or security if unsure.
  3. Security should be notified immediately if a vehicle becomes inoperable on campus. Emergency flashers or signs on the windshield are not sufficient. Any disabled vehicle in a roadway, blocking traffic, creating a hazard or illegally parked in an ADA space may be towed immediately. Disabled or abandoned vehicles will be towed away at the expense of the owner/operator.
  4. Security officers are available to assist motorists with minor roadside assistance such as jump-starts. They can also assist motorists who have been locked out of their vehicles. Officers can be reached 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 509.777.4444. These services can only be provided in areas where a university parking permit is required, including the university-owned Whitworth Neighborhoods houses adjacent to and near the campus.