The Green Book

5) Motor Vehicle Regulations

a) Introduction

The motor vehicle regulations are designed to allow the orderly movement and parking of motor vehicles on campus and to provide adequate access to campus buildings for service and emergency vehicles. All persons who operate a motor vehicle on University property are expected to observe the regulations and are subject to disciplinary action for failure to follow the regulations set forth by the University. The penalties assessed can lead to, but are not limited to, the revocation of the privilege of operating and maintaining a motor vehicle on campus.

b) Disclaimer

The owner and/or operator of any vehicle to be operated or maintained on campus shall assume all risk and responsibility for the vehicle and any loss or damage to any such vehicle and/or its contents. The University will not assume responsibility for the safety, care, or protection of any such vehicle and/or its contents.

c) Registration

A motor vehicle to be operated or maintained on campus by a student or faculty/staff member must be registered with the Cashiers Office, Thurmond Hall, within five business days after the vehicle is first brought on campus. More than one vehicle may be registered. FAILURE TO REGISTER YOUR VEHICLE(S) COULD RESULT IN A FINE OR DISCIPLINARY ACTION. Vehicle registrants are responsible for all violations of registration and parking regulations involving the vehicle they have registered, whomever the operator may be.

The registrant is responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the information provided to the University. The permit must be permanently and completely mounted on the vehicle registered. Taping or the partial mounting of a permit on a vehicle will not be considered proper. Only one current year permit is to be issued and affixed to any vehicle with the exception of one additional MEDICAL and/or TEMPORARY permit per vehicle. Vehicle permits are the property of Oklahoma Baptist University and must be surrendered to Campus Safety upon request.

1. Permits will be obtained at the Cashiers Office in Thurmond Hall.
2. The preferred mounting location for permits on automobiles is the rear bumper on the driver"s side. If this is not practical, the permit may be mounted on the exterior of the rear window on the lower corner of the driver's side. In both cases the permit should be mounted to be visible from directly behind the vehicle from a distance of 15 feet.
3. Permits are mounted on the right front fork assembly of all two- and three-wheeled motor vehicles.

d) Permit Classifications

Registrants of vehicles receive a permit according to their classification status as follows. Permits are valid, with exceptions, until July 31.

1. RESIDENT: students who reside in University-owned campus housing, except married student housing and University-owned apartments.
2. COMMUTER: students who do not reside in University-owned campus housing.
3. RA: Resident Assistant in University-owned housing. Permits must be upgraded every semester.
4. MARRIED STUDENTS: students living in University-owned married student housing.
5. APARTMENTS: students living in University-owned single student apartments.
6. MEDICAL: Medical permits are additional permits for the permanently or temporarily physically impaired. Application for a temporary permit shall be accompanied by an explanatory letter from the Campus Nurse explaining the need for special parking privileges. State issued "Handicapped" permits should be used for permanent Medical Permits. All vehicles with an additional medical permit should also have a standard registration permit.
7. FACULTY/STAFF: persons employed by the University. Student employees are not considered as part of the University staff for the purpose of these regulations.
8. TEMPORARY: no cost permits for vehicles to be operated or maintained on campus less than 30 days.
9. CONTRACTOR: employees of long-term contractors.

e) Permits

Registrants of vehicles receive a permit according to the classification status of the University as follows. Permits are valid, with exceptions, until July 31.

1. RESIDENT: students who reside in University-owned campus housing, except married student housing and University-owned apartments.
2. COMMUTER: students who do not reside in University-owned campus housing.
3. RA: Resident Assistant in University-owned housing. Permits must be upgraded every semester.
4. MARRIED STUDENTS and APARTMENTS: students living in University- owned married student housing and apartments.
5. MEDICAL: permanently or temporarily physically impaired. Application for a temporary permit shall be accompanied by an explanatory letter from the campus nurse explaining special parking privileges. State issued "Handicapped" permits should be used for permanent Medical permits.
6. FACULTY/STAFF: persons employed by the University or its contractors on a permanent basis. Student employees are not considered as part of the staff of the University for the purpose of these regulations.
7. TEMPORARY: no cost permits for vehicles to be operated or maintained on campus less than 30 days.

f) Parking On Campus

A parking space is defined as any area in a parking lot bounded by lines, posts, curbs, or other types of barriers on three sides. To be properly parked, a vehicle must be wholly within the area of one parking space. Parking in fire lanes is prohibited at all times. The University reserves the right to confiscate the permit, deny the privilege of operating a vehicle, or to tow at owner's expense and liability, any vehicle that is in violation of any vehicle regulation.

Lack of space in a particular lot is not a valid excuse for violating parking regulations and will not be considered as a valid basis for appeal.

g) Restricted Parking Spaces

All spaces set apart by RED, BLACK, or YELLOW PAINT on one side of the space are reserved.

VISITOR - reserved at all times for persons who are not students or employees
MAINTENANCE - reserved at all times for Physical Plant personnel
RA - reserved at all times for University Housing Resident Assistants
P.O. - reserved at all times for Post Office patrons transacting Post Office business
RESERVED - Faculty, Staff and University-owned vehicles. (Students may use Reserved spaces only during unrestricted hours. Refer to RESTRICTED PARKING LOTS for restricted hours.)
FIRE LANES - curbs painted red reserved for firefighting equipment
NO PARKING - any yellow curb indicates NO PARKING
LOADING ZONES - established for loading and unloading purposes only. Parking in these areas for any other usage is prohibited.
HANDICAP - vehicles bearing current special permits issued to the permanently disabled.
OFF-ROAD PARKING and PARKING ON GRASS is prohibited and will be fined as Parking in a No Parking Zone.

h) Restricted Parking Lots

The following parking areas have restrictions: (During January Term and Summer School, residents of campus housing also may park in any parking space normally restricted to commuter students.)

i) Regulations Governing Vehicle Operation

A. Vehicle operation on campus must conform to all applicable state and local laws, statutes, rules, and regulations, as well as those University rules and regulations contained herein.

B. Pedestrians have right-of-way on campus at all times. Pedestrians do not have the right to impede the normal flow of traffic for a indefinite period of time.

C. The maximum speed limit on campus is 15 miles per hour. This speed limit is considered the maximum for normal conditions. Vehicles may not be operated at any speeds which are excessive for conditions that may exist.

D. Any person operating a vehicle on campus shall be responsible for the control and safe operation of the vehicle and the observance of any traffic control signs, barriers, or other traffic control devices, and these regulations.

E. Any accident involving a vehicle that occurs on campus must be reported to the safety officer on duty as soon as possible after the accident.

F. Operation of a vehicle in any area other than a street, roadway, or parking area intended for vehicles is prohibited.

1. Two- and three-wheeled vehicles may be operated on those sidewalks that provide the shortest and most direct route between a bicycle rack and the street, roadway, or parking area closest to the bike rack.

G. Students driving a vehicle that has a FACULTY/STAFF permit issued and mounted must abide by parking regulations that apply to their housing status, i.e., Commuter students must abide by Communter parking regulations. The only exception is that vehicles with FACULTY/STAFF permits may not park on the Oval during restricted hours.

H. OBU employees driving a vehicle that has a student parking permit issued and mounted must abide by parking regulations that apply to the permit mounted on the vehicle.

j) Appeals

A. Appeals Procedures

1. Written appeals shall be filed within five business days with the Cashier who will forward them to the Traffic Appeals Judge. Appeal forms are available from the Cashier.
2. The Traffic Appeals Judge will rule within 14 days of the appeal. Notification of the ruling will be sent to the appellant in writing through campus mail.
3. Decisions of the Traffic Appeals Judge may be appealed to the Traffic Appeals Board which has final authority. A fee of $10 will be assessed per application for a hearing by the Traffic Appeals Board to cover processing costs. Applications to the Appeals Board may be made at the Business Office in Thurmond Hall, Room 104.
4. Appeals to the Traffic Appeals Board will be heard by the board within six (6) weeks from the date of application to the board.

k) Schedule of Fines

Violations of Regulations Concerning Vehicle Operation

Violations of Regulations Concerning Parking of Vehicles

l) Campus Bike Policy

General Regulations
Cycling is an excellent way to travel around the campus community. Due to the large number of pedestrians and the risk of theft and/or abandonment, cyclists must exercise safety by following the campus bike policy.

Registration
All bicycles must be registered with the university. Registration is free and will be filed with the Business Office in Thurmond Hall. Registration is valid for six years and will include physical address, phone number, make, model, serial number and estimated value. The registered owner is responsible for communicating any change in address or phone number with the Business Office. The registered owner will receive a decal that should be placed on the bike frame below the seat. The owner or person to whom a bicycle registration is issued is responsible for any parking or registration violations and associated fines in which the bicycle is involved.

Parking
Bicycle parking is permitted on bike racks only. Bicycles should be locked on racks in order to promote maximum security. When a bike is parked for an extended amount of time in long term parking areas, it is strongly encouraged the seat and any quick release tires be removed.

Bicycles may not be parked inside buildings without permission from building coordinator/director. Bicycles parked indoors can obstruct emergency exits, fire extinguishers, and high pedestrian traffic areas.

Bicycles parked, chained or otherwise attached to trees, plants, railing, posts, signs, light poles, handicapped ramps, or any other than a bike rack may be impounded. The University assumes no responsibility for the care and protection of any bicycle, attached accessory, or contents, at any time the bicycle is operated or parked on campus. Designated Parking Areas Bicycle racks designated for long term parking can be utilized throughout the school year without penalty for parking.

The following bicycle racks are designated as long term parking areas:

Agee Residence Center
Burns & Cobb Apartments
East Devereaux Apartments
Howard Apartments
Kerr Dormitory
MacArthur Apartments
Taylor Residence Center
West Devereaux Apartments
West University Apartments
WMU Dormitory

All bicycle racks not specifically designated as long term parking areas are considered short term parking areas. Bicycles racks designated for short term parking can be utilized up to 3 days without penalty.

Violations and Fines
Parking and registration violations will be assessed a fine of $15 by appropriate University officials. Fines can be appealed within 30 days of the ticket issue or paid in the Business Office in Thurmond Hall. If not paid, a fine will be billed to the registered student’s account.

Impounding
Bicycles may be impounded for the following reasons: Illegal parking, lack of registration, and/or abandonment. The University will not be liable for any damage or loss caused by impoundment. Impounded bicycles will be placed in storage until the end of the current academic year. The University will dispose of impounded bicycles after the end of the current academic year. Release of impounded bicycles requires proof of registration, ownership, and proper release form from the designated campus agency.

Abandonment: A bicycle that does not show any sign of recent use or owner care is considered abandoned. Abandoned bicycles may be picked up and impounded.

Theft
Any bicycle suspected of being stolen should be reported immediately to campus safety.