PURPOSE: This regulation establishes parking and traffic procedures for use by all individuals on Saint Vincent property to enhance the safety of pedestrians and vehicles. It delineates who may register a vehicle and the procedures used. It provides for enforcement of regulations and an appeals process.
POLICY
The operation of a motor vehicle or bicycle on Saint Vincent property is a privilege granted by Saint Vincent. It is not an inherent right of any faculty, administrator, staff member or student to operate and/or park a vehicle on Saint Vincent property, however, it is recognized a vehicle is often necessary for convenient transportation and attempts will be made to ensure sufficient parking spaces are provided.
Faculty, staff and students are responsible for all assessed penalties and towing. It is expected that all fines will be paid by the violator. Failure to pay will result in the fines being posted to the students’ account at the end of each semester or deducted from the employees pay.
The assignment of parking areas is based upon the size of the group, the number of parking spaces available, the distance to the center of campus and the needs of the college. Other factors that will be taken into consideration are health and wellness issues, length of service, hierarchal position and position description.
All vehicles shall be operated and/or parked on Saint Vincent property at the owner's risk. Saint Vincent is not responsible for fire, theft, damage to, or theft from vehicles parked or operated on Saint Vincent property.
The issuance of any Saint Vincent permit registration shall constitute acceptance by the registrant to obey the policies set herein and the motor vehicle laws of the State of Pennsylvania.
Saint Vincent retains the right to tow vehicles which present a hazard to safe pedestrian and traffic movement. Towing may be used to remove abandoned vehicles and/or vehicles hampering parking or other activities. Towing may also be used as a penalty when a vehicle is eligible to be immobilized for the second time.
Public Safety is appointed as the office with primary responsibility for parking and traffic management on campus.
DEFINITIONS
Motor Vehicle - a self-propelled conveyance that includes, but is not limited to automobiles, motorcycles, motor scooters and trucks.
Low Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles – Any car or truck that meets the requirements as set forth by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Specific models can be located at the following web address: www.greenercars.org/news.htm under the documents section.
Bicycle - for the purposes of this guide, a bicycle is defined as any wheeled vehicle which is propelled by the rider.
Golf Cart – any motorized vehicle designed and produced specifically for use on golf course surfaces. May be 2 passenger or multiple passenger capable.
Multipurpose work vehicles – any motorized vehicle designed to carry at least one operator and capable of specialized tasks. Maybe 2, 4 or multiple wheel-driven.
Saint Vincent Property - all property owned or operated by Saint Vincent Archabbey, Saint Vincent Seminary and Saint Vincent College.
Loading Zone - A cross-hatched marked area or marked sign, which is reserved for the actual loading and unloading of passengers and/or goods.
Fire Lane/Tow Away Zone - Due to the narrow roads, almost every road is designated as a fire lane and is marked by yellow curbs and/or a yellow stripe painted on the road surface.
Traffic Control Devices - All signs, signals, markings and devices installed for the purpose of regulating, warning and guiding traffic or parking.
Immobilization Device – Commonly referred to as a “boot.” This device is placed on the wheel of a vehicle and keeps the vehicle from being moved.
SIGNAGE and LANE MARKINGS
Informational Signage. Areas not in the normal flow of visitors will be equipped with signage. Signs will be in the format prescribed by the federal/state regulations.
Traffic Signage. Public Safety will be responsible for identifying location and type of sign to include size and mounting type. Signs will be in accordance with federal guidelines.
Road Markings. Public Safety will prepare a plan outlining the pedestrian and vehicular travel traffic markings for safe travel on campus. Road markings will be the responsibility of Public Safety.
Personal Disability (PD) Signage. PD signs will be marked in accordance with federal guidelines.
VEHICLE REGISTRATION and VISITOR'S PASSES
Permanent Vehicle Registration:
Students, faculty, administrators and staff members must register their vehicle(s) if they intend to park anywhere on Saint Vincent property. This includes Parking Area A. Vehicles are registered with the Public Safety Office online through MySV. Registration for students will begin the first Monday in July. Enforcement will begin the first Wednesday of the semester. If a new vehicle is obtained, the vehicle must be registered upon bringing the vehicle onto Saint Vincent Property. Additional registration for faculty, administrators, staff members and students will be made by calling Public Safety at extension 2186 or 724.805.2186.
The vehicle registration permit must always be displayed, when on campus.
The following documents may be required for registration if there is question concerning the registered vehicle:
A Saint Vincent identification card
A valid vehicle driver's license.
A vehicle registration card for each vehicle registered.
A current vehicle insurance card. PA vehicles shall have financial responsibility insurance coverage or a certificate from the PA Department of Transportation certifying financial responsibility.
There are fees associated with registration. Please refer to the College Bulletin or the appropriate staff handbook for more information.
Persons registering vehicles in their name are liable for all violations incurred by that vehicle. All vehicles shall be duly registered from the state of origin and maintain their current certificate of inspection (if required by state law).
Lost, stolen or misplaced permits will be replaced with a $20.00 fee. The permit number for the lost/misplaced permit will be recorded. If a vehicle is found to display a permit that has been reported as lost/misplaced/stolen, then the vehicle will be booted to resolve the issue.
Registration of a vehicle does not guarantee a parking space on Saint Vincent property.
Misuse of Parking Registration:
Parking registration (permit or pass) must be removed from vehicles which are no longer in the possession of the registrant (e.g. sold, traded, and wrecked). The registration must be presented to Public Safety to prevent others from misusing. It is misuse of registration if the permit is reported to be stolen/lost/misplaced and subsequently found in use by the person who made the report or by any other individual.
Students whose parent(s) are employed by Saint Vincent may not use their parent's registration to obtain parking privileges. Students must register their vehicle in accordance with current procedures. This is not intended to prevent students and parents from riding together. Saint Vincent encourages the use of ride sharing whenever possible. However, this is to prevent the abuse of parking privileges by students who have employee parking permits.
Falsification of registration (photocopying, graphic design, etc.) is not permitted.
Temporary Vehicle Registration and Visitor's Passes:
Vehicles used by students, faculty, administrators and staff members on a temporary basis must be registered. This includes, but is not limited to, vehicles owned by a third party and rental vehicles. A one-week temporary registration can be obtained from the Public Safety Office. A 24-hour temporary pass can be issued by the entrance booth after hours and on weekends until the Public Safety Office is open. The documents required are the same as those listed in paragraph 3-1.2 above. Vehicles in this category, used for longer periods, must be registered as in paragraph 3-1 above. A vehicle registration fee for a temporary permit is based on the current price for a yearly permit for students. Faculty, administrators and staff members’ fees are included in the benefits package.
The Public Safety staff member determines eligibility for a visitor’s pass. The entrance booth attendant retains the right to verify visitors even if they are preannounced. Eligibility for guest parking is determined as follows:
When an official guest of the College is expected, notice of the guest’s name (only one per vehicle is needed), the office they will visit, the expected date and time of their arrival and the length of their stay should be sent to the Booth at least 24 hours in advance of the visit. The preferred method of notice is by using the Public Safety Portal webpage and selecting the Guest Parking Request link. An alternative method is to send an email to guestparking@stvincent.edu. The appropriate visitor's pass will be prepared and will await the guest to expedite traffic flow.
The Booth operator will attempt to contact the host regarding any unannounced visitors. If the operator cannot contact the host, the operator is authorized to take reasonable steps to ensure that the presence of the visitor does not compromise the security of the campus. Such steps may include, when necessary, denying the visitor vehicle access to the campus.
Reserved guest parking must be requested through the Event and Conference Service Office (ECS). Specific instructions and signage will be approved by ECS and distributed to Public Safety. ECS will determine the location for assigning reserved guest parking. Reserved guest parking is limited to those areas which contain existing Visitor spaces.
Special event parking is assigned to Parking Area A which is large enough to handle most events. Reservations for special event parking must be made with ECS when making a reservation for event space. ECS will have the final approval authority to determine location and timing of event parking.
Failure to register a vehicle and subsequent use of a Saint Vincent parking area will result in the following schedule of fines until vehicle is registered:
First offense – The cost of the current student’s registration fee. If the vehicle is registered immediately, then the fine and citation will be withdrawn.
Second and subsequent offenses - The cost of the current student registration fee. If the vehicle is registered after the receipt of second or subsequent citations, only the cost of the first citation will be waived.
Upon reaching three (3) unpaid registration fines, the vehicle will be towed or immobilized in addition to the fine imposed for those offenses. (See Section 6-7, Habitual Offender)
PARKING All registered vehicles will be assigned a parking area. The assigned parking area is located on the parking permit issued.
Handicap Parking Spaces are assigned as follows:
Permanent disability recognized by the assignment of a disabled plate or parking permit. Individuals may pick an existing handicap parking space to suit the individual. In the event there is no suitable parking space, the individual must petition the Public Safety Director for the creation of a new handicap parking space.
Temporary disability verified/diagnosed by competent medical official and a short walking distance is prescribed. Individuals will be accommodated as much as possible. However, individuals will not be authorized to park in a designated handicap parking space, no parking area or fire lane. Other designated spaces may be temporarily converted after consultation with the Public Safety Director.
Faculty and staff Parking Areas are restricted from student parking Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Excluding Parking area N, which is reserved 24/7. Parking areas are reserved throughout the year, including the summer. Any variations in parking assignments such as during the summer months will be published by Public Safety on MySV.
Students, faculty and staff are to park according to the parking area assigned.
Student parking areas are;
Parking Area A: Commuters
Parking Area Q: Gerard, Bonaventure and Rooney residents
Parking Area R: Saint Benedict Hall Residents
Parking Area S: Aurelius and Wimmer Hall Residents
Parking Area B: Seminarian Residents
Staff and Faculty parking areas are;
Parking Area A
Parking Area C
Parking Area D
Parking Area E
Parking Area F
Parking Area L
Parking Area N
Parking Area P
Overflow parking for Staff and Faculty is Parking Area C.
Reserved and No Parking Areas:
No parking areas and fire lanes are designated by yellow curbs and/or markings on the pavement. Additional signage may be present in some areas.
There is no parking on walkways, sidewalks, grass/dirt/gravel surfaces (unless specifically permitted by authorized official), in service drives, in traffic lanes, at traffic signs or signals, next to fire hydrants, building egresses and/or in any other area not specifically designated as a parking space.
There is parking only in areas where spaces are designated by white striping. All other areas are prohibited. Vehicles must be parked within the boundaries of the lines.
The parking spaces in front of Alfred Hall are specifically reserved for visitors, Admission guests, President’s Office, Public Safety vehicle, Facility Management vehicle and Fire Department vehicle only. There is also one 15-minute space that can be used to conduct short business transactions in Alfred Hall. These spaces may be reserved for specific individuals after coordination with the Public Safety Office.
Parking spaces reserved for Low Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles may only be used by vehicles that have been approved by American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
Loading zones are designated by signage or yellow crosshatches ("X"s) painted on the road surface. They are designated for short-term loading and unloading not to exceed fifteen (15) minutes. They should not be confused with no parking area markings and crosswalks, which are only hatched (parallel lines). Emergency flashers must be in operation AT ALL TIMES while stopped in the loading area.
Vehicles shall not be parked in such a manner as to block vehicle or pedestrian traffic, block access to waste receptacle, or hinder snow removal operations.
Saint Vincent reserves the right to impose limitations on parking in emergencies and on special occasions as needed. Saint Vincent will seek to provide advance notice if possible; however, this cannot be guaranteed in all situations. Individuals affected will be instructed where to park.
Penalties: The Public Safety Department reserves the right to raise fees at any time.
Parking/Standing in a Fire Lane - $25.00 initial fine. In addition, vehicle may be towed at owner's expense.
Parking in a handicap space - $75.00 initial fine. In addition, vehicle may be towed at owner's expense.
Parking in a no parking area (designated by yellow hatches {parallel lines} painted on road surface) - $10.00 initial fine.
Parking in a closed parking area - $50.00 initial fine.
Moving a traffic control device - $25.00 initial fine.
Blocking a pedestrian walkway or crosswalk - $10.00 initial fine.
Blocking traffic movement - $10.00 initial fine.
Blocking a fire hydrant - $25.00 initial fine.
Occupying more than one parking space - $10.00 initial fine.
Failure to comply with official’s instructions - $25.00 initial fine.
Parking on grass/dirt/gravel surface - $10.00 initial fine.
Parking in an area not specifically designated for parking (no white lines) - $10.00 initial fine.
Parking in wrong reserved parking area (permit not valid for area) - $10.00 initial fine.
Parking in a reserved parking space (visitor, admissions, president etc) - $10.00 initial fine
Parking in a loading zone (designated by yellow crosshatches painted on road surface or sign limited to 15 minutes) - $10.00 initial fine.
Permit not displayed on vehicle that was registered - $10.00 initial fine
Improper display of permit or permit not displayed - $10.00 initial fine
Misuse of Permit (fake, alter, let someone else use etc.) - $25.00 initial fee
Failure to stop at stop sign - $10.00 initial fee
Boot Fee – Current rate charged for student vehicle registration fee.
Habitual offender:
A habitual offender is an offender who accumulates four (4) or more parking citations within a school year. This period is calculated from the start of the school term to the end of the school term. (August to May). The number of citations from the previous school year does not carry over.
A habitual offender is subject to being immobilized by a device, which renders the vehicle incapable of moving, also known as a boot. Upon the issuance of the fifth citation.
A habitual offender (if known) will receive a letter informing them of their placement on the boot list. If the offender is not known and has not registered their vehicle no notice of placement can be given.
After an individual has been booted for non-compliance, they must do one of the following to have the boot removed:
Pay boot fee and citation immediately; or
Faculty and Staff must sign a form that allows the payment of the fines through garnishment of wages.
A habitual offender remains on the boot list, regardless of whether all citations are paid.
TRAFFIC
Traffic Codes: Saint Vincent adheres to the Uniform Traffic Code and Pennsylvania Vehicle Code for the control of traffic on Saint Vincent property. Deviations in this policy will be clearly marked. Failure to adhere to these codes can result in an offense and violators will be cited.
Speed Limits:
The speed limit on roads and streets within the confines of Saint Vincent is 15 miles per hour unless otherwise marked.
In adverse weather, the speed must be reduced to avoid accidents.
Yield/Right-of-Way
At uncontrolled intersections, drivers must yield right-of-way in accordance with state law.
Drivers must yield right-of-way to all pedestrians in all situations. PEDESTRIANS ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT-OF-WAY.
There is no passing of vehicles. Drivers may go around parked vehicle only after due caution is used.
Drivers must stay on designated road surfaces and may not drive around gates/barriers
Penalities
Speeding
Speeding fines are based upon applicable Pennsylvania State Statutes. The following penalties for speed in excess of the posted limit.
16-20 MPH $25.00
21-30 MPH $50.00
31-40 MPH $75.00
41> MPH $100.00
41 MPH and over $100.00 and possible loss of driving privileges on Saint Vincent property for up to one (1) year.
The following are the fines and penalties for failure to yield:
Failure to yield right-of-way at an intersection:
No accident - $10.00 fine.
Resulting in an accident - $25.00 fine and loss of driving privileges on Saint Vincent property for up to six (6) months.
Failure to yield right-of-way to pedestrians:
First offense - $25.00 fine.
Second offense - $25.00 fine and loss of driving privileges on Saint Vincent property for up to one (1) year.
Resulting in an injury to a pedestrian - $25.00 fine and loss of driving privileges on Saint Vincent property for up to five (5) years.
Driving around fixed gate - $75.00 fine.
All other traffic violations are a $10.00 fine for each offense. Serious infractions such as careless/reckless driving and driving while under the influence will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and may result in fines or loss of driving privileges on Saint Vincent property.
OTHER MOTORIZED/NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS
Saint Vincent/Maintenance Vehicles:
Saint Vincent vehicles may be assigned to a specific parking area (Abbey fleet) or allowed to park in any suitable parking space (except reserved spaces). The operator of these vehicles must adhere to the rules and policies contained in this guide. The operator of the vehicle will be responsible for any and all violations.
Contractor's vehicles must park in designated spaces except as provided above for delivery, loading and unloading. Contractors may not park in any non-parking areas unless previously coordinated and approved by the Public Safety Director.
Emergency Vehicles:
Emergency vehicles responding to an incident must exercise due care and caution due to the number of pedestrians and narrow roads. They may respond with lights and sirens and may exceed the posted speed limit.
Responding emergency vehicles may park where necessary to accomplish their function. Other emergency vehicles must ensure they do not impede other responding units' functions. During non-emergency parking situations, emergency vehicles must follow established parking regulations.
Motorcycles/Motor scooters: May park within any designated parking space. Motorcycles are not to be parked on sidewalks, porches, balconies, walkways or inside buildings or resident hall rooms.
Bicycles, Skateboards, In-line Skates, Etc:
Bicycles for students, faculty, administrators and staff members’ use are permitted, and the rider must adhere to all traffic regulations. Bicycles may not be ridden on sidewalks. The use of a helmet is highly encouraged.
Skateboards, in-line skates and roller skates are authorized for use by the Saint Vincent Community on Saint Vincent property outside of the buildings. All others are prohibited. These devices may not be used on railings, curbs, steps or any other property that may be damaged or cause injury to the user. Violators will be reported to Student Affairs and damages will be assessed. The use of helmets and pads is highly encouraged.
ADMINISTRATION OF CITATIONS, FINES and LOSS of DRIVING and PARKING PRIVILEGES
Citations:
Database entry: Each citation will be entered into a database maintained by Public Safety. The information contained in the database is confidential but may be shared with other law enforcement or college officials with a need to know. The information contained in this database will be used for billing purposes and determination of habitual offender status.
Coordination with State Police: Serious offenses will be referred to the PA State Police along with all accidents involving injury or serious property damage.
Fines:
Payment:
Statements - Payment may be made online, in person, by mailing to the Saint Vincent College Public Safety Office, 300 Fraser Purchase Road, Latrobe, PA 15650-2690, or by calling the Public Safety Office.
Individual citations - Prior to the receipt of a statement, citations may be paid in person at the Public Safety Office.
Fines paid within five (5) business days will be discounted by twenty percent (20%) with the exception of online payments. For example, a $10.00 fine would be discounted by $2.00 and a $25.00 fine would be discounted by $5.00.
Failure to pay:
Students - Registration, grades, graduation, and/or transcripts may be withheld for anyone who fails to clear their account prior to the end of each semester.
Students/Faculty/Administrator/Staff Member - Parking/driving privileges may be suspended for outstanding balances of $100.00 or more. Vehicles may also be booted until fines are paid.
Loss of parking registration privileges:
Notification - The offender will be notified in writing at least five (5) business days prior to the effective date of the suspension unless immediate action is warranted.
Registration indicia must be removed and returned to the Public Safety Office prior to the suspension. After the suspension period has ended, the vehicle(s) may be re-registered or the previous registration indicia may be returned.
APPEALS COMMITTEE:
Appeals Committee. The purpose of the Appeals Committee is to hear appeals of citations issued for infractions by all appellants and to render decisions. It is not intended to turn this committee into a traffic court. They will review written appeals submitted by the appellants as processed by the Public Safety Office
Individuals appointed to this committee must not have excessive tickets issued to them. This is defined as having no tickets within the past 3 years. Individuals appointed to this committee must also have a vehicle registered to park on campus. The length of the term will be for one year with the option of requesting a one-year extension. The Director of Public Safety will also appoint a chairperson to organize the meeting and to report back on the decision of the committee. The student representatives will be appointed by the Executive Board of the Student Government Association (SGA). The remainder of the committee will be appointed by the Director of Public Safety. The committee will be comprised as follows:
One faculty representative
One administration representative
One hourly employee representative
Two student representatives
The Committee will meet a minimum of once each month to render decisions. They may meet more frequently if needed. Meetings may be held in person or by any means they so agree upon.
The decision of the Appeals Committee shall be final. The Appeals Committee is afforded discretion in hearing the appeal. They may:
Let the citation stand as written along with maximum fines and penalties.
Let the citation stand as written but consider lesser penalties.
Modify the violation and issue a new citation or warning.
Nullify the citation.
Appeals Process:
Anyone cited for a traffic, or a parking violation is provided an opportunity to appeal the citation by submitting a written explanation of the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the citation. Appeals are filed on-line at: http://www.stvincent.edu/public_safety/parking-violation-appeal or on the Public Safety portal page.
This online appeal is submitted to the Public Safety Office within five (5) business days following the issuance of the citation. All appeals are filed online unless there are special circumstances. Any appeal received after the cutoff date will not be forwarded to the Appeals Committee. The appellant will be notified in writing of the failure to meet the established time criteria.
Public Safety will prepare the appeals documents to be forwarded to the committee. Any identifying data will be removed from the appeals package and will be tracked using the citation number. The package will include the following:
Written Appeal
Citation History
Issuing officer rebuttal, if any.
The Appeals Committee Chair will select a method to discuss the appeals. The Appeals Committee must meet at least once each month. If there are a large number of appeals, the committee may hear cases as frequently as needed. The method of communication must allow for free discussion of the circumstances and the ability to render a decision. This decision of the Appeals Committee will be final.
Once a decision is reached, the Chairperson must inform the Public Safety Office Manager of the decision. The Office Manager will process the decision and notify the appellant of the decision.
SNOW REMOVAL POLICY
During periods of heavy snow, it is imperative for the safety of everyone to conduct snow removal operations. From time to time, properly parked vehicles may need to be moved to facilitate the removal of excess snow.
The registered operators of the vehicles in the affected area will be notified via signs posted in parking lots and/or by telephone or Saint Vincent email.
If the registered operator does not move the vehicle and cannot be located, Saint Vincent reserves the right to tow the vehicle, at the owner's expense. The vehicle will not be impounded, but, if possible, will be moved to another location on Saint Vincent property. Saint Vincent will not be responsible for any damage to the vehicle.
