Motor Vehicle Regulations

Overview

The Student Motor Vehicle Regulations are intended to provide for the registration and regulation of all vehicles operated on campus by community members. All students are obligated to fulfill the following motor vehicle regulations in addition to the Ohio State motor vehicle laws. Violators should expect to be cited.

All students are required to register any motorized vehicle present on the Denison University campus. A Denison registration sticker is not only a parking permit, but is required for roadway use of a motor vehicle. Motorcycles, trail bikes and mopeds must be registered with both a State and Denison University registration. No motorized vehicle may be stored in or near a University building, as it creates a potential fire hazard. Such vehicles will be impounded.

The fact that a student has registered a vehicle does not guarantee a convenient parking space; the responsibility to find an authorized parking space rests with the operator of the vehicle. It is not acceptable to cite the inability to locate an authorized parking space as a reason for violating University parking regulations.

Students may register their bicycles through the Campus Security and Safety Office. Registration is free.

Rules and Regulations

It is highly recommended that owners of motor vehicles carry at least the minimum insurance required by the State of Ohio, as the University does not assume such liability while the motor vehicle is on the campus.

1. All motor vehicles are to be registered within three days of physically locating on campus. Registration is available through the Student Accounts Office. The permit must be displayed within 24 hours of registering the vehicle. The registration fee for all motorized vehicles (cars, trucks, vans, and motorcycles) is $60 for 2009-2010. The fee for lost/damaged replacement stickers is $10 each.
2. At the time of registration, the owner must present evidence of a valid state vehcile registration. An eligible student may register a motor vehicle at Denison only if the vehicle is titled in his or her name or immediate family's name.
3. Denison registration permits must be permanently displayed within 72 hours of the vehicle being physically located on campus. The permit should be displayed on the driver’s side rear window or bumper (fender area of motorcycle /mopeds).
4. The owner of the motor vehicle is held responsible at all times and must accept all penalties regardless of the person driving at the time of the violation. Signing the registration form constitutes knowledge of all applicable regulations.
5. Denison University reserves the right to deny/revoke registration and campus parking privileges for the following reasons:
   1. Five (5) or more citations accumulated during an academic year.
   2. Falsification of information on registration forms.
   3. Tampering with, defacing or defrauding a parking sticker.
   4. Actions deemed hazardous to the safety of the community or the property of the college.

Citations

Students will receive notices about the 5-citation maximum on each citation, in the Student Handbook, on the Parking Map/Guidelines, on Channel 20, and the Security website.

It is ultimately the student's responsibility to know the number of citations they have.

The Student Accounts Office will monitor and provide Campus Security and Safety with a list of students who have had five citations. Security will then "boot" the vehicle and the owner will need to return the parking sticker to the Student Accounts Office and remove the vehicle from campus. If a student can demonstrate a hardship, they may make arrangements with Security to store the vehicle in the Ebaugh cold storage area. If an owner is found driving on campus after losing parking/driving privileges, the vehicle will be towed and the student will be turned over to the Office of Campus and Residential Life for judicial action.

Common Parking and Traffic Violations

Speeding -- Denison maintains a standard 20 mph speed limit in all areas of the campus.

The fines for speeding and other common violations are set at:

1-20 miles over limit: $40

20 mph or more over: $100

Reserved Space Parking: $40

Driving/Parking on lawn/sidewalk: $40

Quad Parking: $40

Stop sign violation: $40

Parking in a handicapped space: $100

Reckless Operaton, Improper Backing, Wrong Way in a One Way, Misuse of Vehicle on Private Property: $100

Parking in a Fire Lane: $100

No Visible Permit: $100

Fraudulent Permit: $100

Failure to stop for an officer, leaving the scene of an accident: $100

DUI or Open Container: $100

Violations, Fines and Appeals -- All fines will be posted immediately on student bills. Parking appeals must be submitted within 7 calendar days. If an appeal is granted the fine will be removed from the student bill. Students receiving 5 citations in an academic year will lose their parking privileges for the remainder of the academic year. A Parking Appeals Board comprised of three students will review all appeals and grant or deny them. When the board is unable to be convened the Director of Campus Security and Safety will review the appeals.

Depending on the seriousness of the offense, judicial action and/or loss of parking privileges may be taken in addition to monetary fines. Handicapped Space and Fire Lane violations are not subject to appeal. All appeal decisions are final.

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Other Drugs (DUI) -- In accordance with the agreement between Denison University and the Granville Police Department, any incident where there is a suspicion of driving while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs will be reported to the Granville Police Department. Students found responsible for driving under the influence will have their registration revoked, in addition to any sanctions levied by Mayor's Court and/or the Office of Campus and Residential Life for judicial action.

Parking

Certain areas of the campus are designated for faculty/staff parking, for administration parking, visitor parking, handicapped parking, and for student parking. Parking maps with motor vehicle regulations are available at the time vehicles are registered. The complete Motor Vehicle Regulations can be found in the Student Handbook and available on the Security Web site.

When you are parking in the Village, please keep in mind that the Village of Granville has a 72-hour parking ordinance, with towing instituted after that time.

Handicapped Parking Policy -- Those individuals using handicapped parking spaces are required to prominently display a designated auto license plate, state-issued "Handicapped" sign or temporary hang tag issued by Campus Security and Safety.

Unauthorized parking in a handicapped parking space will result in having your vehicle booted and towed at owners risk and expense. It also includes a $100 fine and referral to the Office of Campus and Residential Life for judicial action.

Auto-Boot Immobilizer Policy -- Campus Security and Safety will use the auto-boot immobilizer in the following situations:

1. To impound a vehicle involved in an investigation (to preserve evidence) or to disable a vehicle so it cannot be moved before a wrecker arrives (i.e., accident).
2. When the vehicle/license plate number appears on the multiple offender's list.
3. Other instances, when deemed necessary by Campus Security and Safety.

In all cases when an auto-boot immobilizer is utilized to disable a vehicle, the officer placing the boot on the vehicle will immediately place a completed "Warning Immobilization Notice" on the windshield (driver's side) of the vehicle and/or the driver's side door.

If you find such a notice on your vehicle, contact Campus Security immediately. Any attempt by the owner to move the vehicle while the auto-boot immobilizer is in place may result in damage to the vehicle.

Fraudulent Permit -- It is a violation of policy to alter a parking permit, to display, or permit to display, a parking permit not registered to your vehicle. Permits are non-transferable and can only be issued by the Cashier's Office. Students displaying fraudulent permits will receive a $100 citation and be referred to the Campus and Residential Life for judicial action. This will generally result in the loss of parking privileges.

Towing Policy -- Any vehicle which inhibits the flow of traffic, parks in a fire lane, parks in a fire department space or parks in a handicapped space while unauthorized to do so will be towed immediately. Vehicles owned by repeat offenders, or by individuals denied parking privileges are subject to towing. Vehicles may be towed for other reasons deemed necessary by Campus Security and Safety.

Visitor Parking -- Students who have overnight guests should call the operator to give a description of their guests' vehicle, including the license number. Visitors should park in the Field house lot.