Parking Rules and Regulations

Parking on campus: what is needed

Anyone parking on campus must display a valid University parking permit 24 hours daily, Monday through Friday, including holidays, or must pay the required fee at parking meters, the visitors paid lot, or the parking garage. Faculty and staff represented by a bargaining unit must display a valid University registration decal in their vehicle when it is parked on campus. They may use their registration decal only in vehicles registered with the University in their name. Parking permits are not required for vehicles parking on campus between 5 p.m. Friday and midnight Sunday.

Parking meters are in effect from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except for the meters behind Couper Administration Building and at the West side of the Library Tower lot, and the South side of Mohawk Hall which are in effect 24 hours daily. Parking permits are required at meters from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Friday. There is no parking at meters in the Administration Circle from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. daily. In addition, meters located in the East Gym, West Gym and Tennis Court lots have extended hours.

All students are required to register their vehicles with Parking Services at the time of academic registration or within 48 hours of acquiring the vehicle. Faculty and staff must register vehicles driven on campus within 48 hours of their acquisition. Resident students who move off campus must still register with Parking Services and obtain the appropriate University parking permit.

Registration of a vehicle is not a parking permit and carries no parking privileges. Vehicle registration merely enables Parking Services to identify and, if necessary, contact the operator.

Freshman parking ban

Freshmen (fewer than 24 credits completed at Binghamton University) residing in University residence halls are not permitted to register or park a vehicle on campus. This includes the parking garage, visitors paid parking and parking meters. Freshmen who reside off campus may register a vehicle on campus and purchase a parking permit.

Requests for exceptions to this policy are to be directed to the Deputy Chief of Police / Parking Services.

Resident freshmen who park a car on campus without permission from Parking Services and upper-classmen who purchase a parking permit for a resident freshman (or attempt to do so) will be fined and/or face campus judicial action.

Obtaining a parking permit and registration decal

You may register for parking by mail or in person at Parking Services, located on the Ground floor of the Couper Administration Building, or at the Information Booth on Bartle Drive. Customer hours at Parking Services are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; at the Information Booth, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday. At all other times, parking permits and temporary registration decals may be obtained at the University Police Department, Couper Administration Building G-35.

Parking permit fees vary according to the type of permit; consult the fee schedule at Parking Services or Information Booth. Be sure to obtain the permit best suited to your parking needs, as refunds will not be issued after seven calendar days of purchase. (Also, refunds will be processed only after available funds have been credited to any outstanding fine balances.) While a parking permit may be shared among users the ownership (person responsible for the fines associated with the use of a permit) of the parking permit is not transferable.

Dates of validity for parking permits are: Fall: 9/1 to 1/31/ Spring: 2/1 to 5/31 Summer: 6/1 to 8/31 Annual 9/1 to 8/31 Since parking spaces are limited, purchase of a parking permit does not assure a parking space. back to top

Placement of registration decal and parking permit

Parking permits must be hung from the rearview mirror, with the University logo facing front. You may transfer the permit to any vehicle (except that of a resident freshman) unless you are an employee represented by a bargaining unit; such employees may use their permit only in a vehicle registered with Parking Services in their name. You’ll be held responsible for parking violations issued to any vehicle bearing your permit. Registration decals must be permanently and entirely affixed to the left (driver's) rear side window. Taping or other temporary adhesion is not permitted.

Registration decals are not transferable from one vehicle to another. If you sell the vehicle, or if you cease to be an employee of the University, it's your responsibility to remove the registration decal.

Motorcycle parking permits and decals should be permanently and entirely affixed to the left front fork.

Replacement permits

If you leave your parking permit behind, you may purchase a one-day replacement permit, available from Parking Services, Public Safety or the Information Booth, for a fee determined by the University.

If your registered vehicle is unavailable and you drive a different car to campus, you may obtain a free three-day temporary registration decal from Parking Services, Public Safety or the Information Booth; but remember, if you need a temporary parking permit, that must be purchased as required. back to top

Lost or stolen permits and/or decals

If you lose your permit or registration decal, you can replace it at a fee of $10.00. If the lost permit or decal is later recovered, the fee will be refunded upon return of the second permit to Parking Services. If your permit or decal is stolen, you can receive a replacement, provided that Parking Services is furnished with proof that the theft was reported to the police agency having jurisdiction for the location of the theft offense. A replacement fee will be charged. Individuals in possession of lost or stolen parking permits and/or decals are subject to University disciplinary action and/or arrest.

Parking Areas: Visitors

A number of parking options are open for visitors. Parking by the hour is available at the parking garage or the paid visitors' lot. Short-term parking is available at parking meters around the Administration Circle, the Library Tower, by the Anderson Center Box Office, and near the McGuire building, the West Gym, the East Gym, the South side of Mohawk Hall, Clearview Hall and the Multi-space metered lot in M-2. To park in lots other than the paid visitors lot or the garage, visitors may purchase a daily parking permit at the posted fee at the Information Booth, Parking Services , or Public Safety.

Service vehicles

Companies with representatives serving offices or equipment on campus are expected to follow all parking regulations. Parking Services will issue special parking permits to service vehicles at the time of their registration. The service permit allows service vehicles to park in specially marked State/Service spaces located in parking lots and near loading docks. back to top

Disability parking

Special parking is available on campus for people with impaired mobility. Parking spaces reserved for this purpose are designated by the international access symbol painted on the ground and/or by A Disabled Parking signs. To apply for a campus disabled-parking authorization, contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). The office will mail a medical form to your physician, then the SSD coordinator will review the returned form, in consultation with the medical director of the University Health Service, and approve or deny the application. If your application is approved, you'll receive a special permit when registering your vehicle from the SSD Office. Short-term disabled-parking permits are available from the SSD Office only.

Binghamton has a two-tiered disability parking system. Individuals judged to have severe mobility handicaps are granted authorization to park in specially designated areas at the center of campus. Those judged to have moderate mobility handicaps are granted authorization to park in other nearby disability-parking areas. Wheelchair spaces, clearly marked by signage, are, of course, reserved only for people using wheelchairs.

Vehicles not displaying the appropriate disability-parking permit will be ticketed and/or towed at the owner's expense. back to top

The following lots are reserved only for commuter parking from Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; no overnight parking (1 to 6 a.m.) is allowed in these lots: Rafuse Hall (lot B), Fine Arts West (lot C), Fine Arts East (lot D), Gym East (lot E), West Gym North Lot (Lot F-3), West Gym Lot (Lot G), Cleveland Hall (lot L), East Access South (lot O3), East Access North (lot O4), College-in-the-Woods North (lot Q1), Mohawk Hall North (lotQ2), Delaware Hall (lot P), Johnson-O'Connor Halls (lot T), Digman Hall (lot U) and The University Downtown Center Parking Lot.

Several commuter lots are also snow lots. See below for more information.

Snow lots

A number of parking areas are designated as snow lots. These lots must be clear of cars seven days a week between 1 and 6 a.m., November 15 to March 30, to allow for snow removal. Vehicles parked in snow lots at these times and dates will be ticketed and/or towed. The snow lots are: Administration (lot A), Rafuse Hall (lot B), Fine Arts West (lot C), Fine Arts East (lot D), Gym East (lot E), Gym East Tennis Court Lot (lot E1), Gym West Lot (lot F), Bunn Hill Access Lots (lots F1&F2 ), West Gym North Lot (Lot F-3), West Gym Lot (Lot G), Innovative Technology Complex Lot (Lot J), Academic B Disabled Parking Lot (Lot K), Cleveland Hall (lot L), West Access (lot M, north of walkway barrier), East Access South (lot O3), East Access North (lot O4), College-in-the-Woods North (lot Q1), Mohawk Hall North (lot Q2), Johnson-O'Connor Halls (lot T), Delaware Hall (lot P), Johnson-O'Connor Halls (lot T), Digman Hall (lot U), Health Service (lot V), Visitors Paid Lot (lot W), Appalachian Dining Hall Lot (Lot Y2), and Clearview Hall (lot Z) The University Downtown Center Parking Lot. back to top

Motorcycles, snowmobiles, and trailers

All motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, and motorbikes must be registered with Public Safety. Those belonging to employees represented by a bargaining unit must display a registration decal when parked on campus; others must display only a parking permit. Students may purchase permits for motorcycles registered in their own name or that of a member of their immediate family only. Proof of vehicle registration is required. Motorcycle and moped parking spaces are located on the southwestt side of the University Union facing the Engineering Building, near the loading docks of the Engineering Building and Couper Administration Building, and in front of the West Gym, on the south side of the University Union West in Lot I and at the east edge of Lot Q-2.

Snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles may not be operated on University grounds without specific permission from the University Police or Parking Services.

Vehicular living quarters may not be parked on University grounds or properties at any time without the permission of the Chief of University Police or his designee.

Disabled vehicles

Disabled vehicles may not be left in roadways, parking lot aisles, or other locations where they can interfere with traffic. If your vehicle becomes disabled, move it as quickly as possible to a valid parking space and immediately report the vehicle description, license plate number, location, and name of the owner or operator by calling University Police at x 72393. Simply leaving a note on the vehicle is not adequate notification. Once a vehicle is in a valid parking space and is reported as disabled, University Police / Parking Services at its discretion may give the operator or owner up to 24 hours to make the necessary removal arrangements. Vehicles left more than 24 hours or not in a valid parking space may be towed. back to top

Permission to load and unload

Service roads and residence hall patio areas are strictly reserved for service vehicles. No other vehicle may be operated in these areas without prior permission from Public Safety, x 72393. If you're granted permission to load or unload, your vehicles four-way emergency flashers must be displayed while the vehicle is in the restricted area. A 20-minute time limit, and a 5-m.p.h. speed limit on service drives, will be strictly enforced. Vehicle operators who do not seek prior permission, who do not use flashers, and/or who exceed the time limit may be ticketed and/or towed.

Parking and Traffic Violations

The University requires that all vehicles conform to New York State Department of Motor Vehicle rules and regulations regarding registration, insurance, and safety inspections. In addition, violations of the Vehicle and Traffic Law or any other applicable traffic ordinance will be processed in accordance with the requirements of the applicable law.

The University seeks to assure that safe and accessible parking is available for intended users and that University business may be conducted in a safe and orderly fashion. In addition, access at all times must be available for emergency and critical service equipment.

The responsibility for finding a valid parking space, as well as determining whether a parking permit is valid, rests with the vehicle operator. Since parking spaces are limited, purchase of a parking permit does not assure a parking space. Lack of an available space is not justification for violating University parking regulations.

Vehicles must be parked within the boundaries of a valid parking space. This means that there is no parking on crosswalks, on sidewalks, on off-pavement areas, at yellow curb areas, beyond the end of a marked row, in bus or loading zones, and in traffic lanes or barricaded or closed areas. Personal notes of explanation left on vehicles or the fact that other vehicles are parked illegally do not constitute justification for parking in violation of the regulations.back to top

1. 1. No current, appropriately displayed vehicle registration decal: $25
2. No current, appropriately displayed University parking permit: $25
3. Parking in a tow-away zone: $25
4. Parking in a fire-safety zone: $50
5. Parking on the grass: $25
6. Overtime parking: $20
7. Parking in a restricted area: $20
8. Unauthorized parking in a disabled zone: $50
9. All other violations: $20

Appeals of parking tickets

Fine payment / Unpaid fines

Escort Service and Emergency Phones

Binghamton University offers a late-night escort service during the academic year. This service is available between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. each night. If you don’t wish to walk across campus alone at night, call the Department of Public Safety, x 72393, and request an escort. Within several minutes an escort will come to your location and walk with you to your car or other destination on campus. The escorts, easily identified by their fluorescent orange jackets, are students trained by University Police; they are in constant radio contact with the University Police Department for your protection. We encourage all members of the campus community to take advantage of this service. A safe walk is only a phone call away.

There are approximately 66 emergency telephones around campus. Each is marked by a large blue light directly above the telephone box, which is bright yellow and labeled emergency. To use an emergency phone, you need only open the box and pick up the receiver; no dialing is required. As soon as you lift the receiver, the University Police dispatcher knows your location. At the same time the phone is answered, a patrol car is on its way to that phone's location.

When requesting emergency assistance on a blue-light phone, remember these tips:

1. Remain calm.
2. Give your name and location.
3. State the nature of the emergency.
4. Give any pertinent information such as license Plate numbers descriptions of people, etc.

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK | PO Box 6000 Binghamton, NY 13902-6000 | (607) 777-2000 |
Updated 8/6/2008