Parking Rules and Regulations

Registering your vehicle

• All motor vehicles (automobiles, motorcycles, and motorized scooters) must be registered with the Campus Safety Office immediately upon bringing the vehicle to campus. If you have completed your vehicle registration online, you are considered to have obtained your permit. However, your vehicle registration is NOT complete until the sticker is completely affixed to the motor vehicle, or the temporary permit is properly displayed in the vehicle. Failure to affix and display your permit properly after registering online is grounds for issuance of a traffic violation. The permit must be affixed with sticker’s own adhesive backing.
• Registration fees for the academic year are $220 for automobiles and $40 for motorcycles and motorized scooters. Registration fees will be prorated if the vehicle registration is made for the Spring Semester only. Registration fees are not refundable. Special arrangements for a reduced fee can be made at the Campus Safety Office for students that are taking a semester abroad or graduating at the end of first semester. Register your vehicle at: calvin.thepermitstore.com
• High school students who are dually enrolled at Calvin University must register and obtain a commuter student permit for their vehicle. They can obtain this permit for $40.00 at the Campus Safety Department. If a dually enrolled student is commuting with a current Calvin student, the full permit fee will apply and there will not be a discounted rate.
• Persons using more than one vehicle on campus must purchase a permit for each additional vehicle. The cost for a permit for a second vehicle is $10.00 provided only one of the vehicles is parked on campus at any time, otherwise the full permit fee will apply. If a motorcycle and automobile are both registered, the motorcycle would be considered the second vehicle. Proof of ownership will be required for students registering multiple vehicles.
• Students may not transfer parking permits to other vehicles or to other students.
• Students who knowingly acquire, use, or display a parking permit with false information will be considered to be engaged in fraudulent behavior and will be fined a minimum of $50.00. We reserve the right to refer violators to the campus discipline process for additional action.
• Lost permits will be replaced at a cost of $50.00.
• A $10 charge will be administered anytime a permit needs to be changed or replaced.
• A permanent parking permit (decals) for an automobile must be fully affixed in the lower right (passenger side) corner of the windshield with its own adhesive backing. Decals on motorcycles and motorized scooters must be displayed on the right front fork. Students must acquire the appropriate permit corresponding to their status as either a commuter or a resident student on campus.
• Students who register their vehicle are responsible for any traffic violation tickets received on the vehicle.

Temporary permits

• Temporary parking permits (mirror tags) must be acquired for any vehicle that is being used on campus on a temporary basis. The temporary permit is $2.50 per day but it is free if the vehicle being registered is temporarily replacing a properly registered vehicle. The temporary permit must be acquired the day that use of the vehicle on campus begins, but if operation begins after regular business hours, the user must contact Campus Safety dispatch (night or day) to request permission to temporarily park without a permit until the next business day. There is a limit of 10 temporary permits per semester during the school year.
• Frequent visitors and overnight guests are required to contact Campus Safety to obtain a permit, free of charge. Overnight guests in the residence halls must park in the same overnight lots as the resident student they are visiting utilizes.
• Persons who knowingly acquire, use, or display a parking permit not consistent with their current status will be considered to be engaged in fraudulent behavior and will be subject to the campus discipline process.

Summer parking

Students that need to leave their vehicle on campus for over 30 days (unattended), must contact the Campus Safety Department to register their vehicle and make parking arrangements. A $25 charge will apply for the summer registration. If a vehicle is left for more than 30 days without informing the Campus Safety Department, a $50 ticket fine will be issued.

Students taking summer classes, or residing and/or working on campus during the summer are not required to have a parking permit displayed on their vehicle.

Faculty and staff permits

• Staff permits may be acquired for no cost. However, any faculty or staff member with outstanding fines for traffic violations will not be issued a permit until all fines are paid. Staff and faculty members do not need to register specific vehicles. Permits are assigned to a specific person and not a specific vehicle.
• Children of faculty or staff attending Calvin must abide by student parking regulations, even when driving a vehicle with a staff parking permit. Any fees associated with traffic violations committed by a student driver will be placed onto the student’s miscellaneous account.

Where your permit allows you to park

• The color of your parking permit decal designates where you may and may not park.
• The rules applying to the specific color of your student permit are valid for anyone driving your vehicle.
• Students displaying a current green (commuter) parking permit may park in any area NOT posted for staff, visitors or reserved for special purposes. Students displaying a current green (commuter) parking permit may not park in lots posted “No Overnight Parking from 2am–6am” during the restricted time.
• Students displaying a current red (Knollcrest East Resident) parking permit may park in the parking lots at Knollcrest East (Lots 17, 18, 19 and 20), or if these lots are full, in the parking lot adjacent to the DeVos Communication Center (Lots 14,15 and 16). Students displaying a current red permit may not park in the Fine Arts Center Parking Lot at any time and may not park in any of the other lots on the main campus between 7:30am and 5:30pm with the exception of the Southwest Lot (Lot 1) and Track and Tennis Lot (Lot 7), where they may park. Students displaying a current red parking permit may not park in lots posted “No Overnight Parking from 2am–6am” during the restricted time.
• Students who live in Bolt-Heyns-Timmer, Rooks-VanDellen or Schultze-Eldersveld, with vehicles displaying a current yellow parking permit may park in the East Beltline Parking Lot (Lot 13), adjacent to the Calvin Ecosystem Preserve & Native Gardens or, if this lot is full, in the parking lot adjacent to the DeVos Communication Center (Lots 14, 15 and 16). Students displaying a current yellow permit may not park in the Fine Arts Center Parking Lot at any time and may not park in any of the other lots on the main campus between 7:30am and 5:30pm with the exception of the Southwest Lot (Lot 1) and the Track and Tennis Lot (Lot 7). Students displaying a current yellow parking permit may not park in lots posted “No Overnight Parking from 2am–6am” during the restricted time.
• Students who live in Boer-Bennink, Beets Veenstra, Noordewier-VanderWerp or Kalsbeek-Huizenga-van Reken, with vehicles displaying a current purple parking permit may park in the Kalsbeek Huizenga Parking Lot (Lot 8) or, if this lot is full, in the parking lot adjacent to the DeVos Communication Center (Lots 14, 15 and 16). Students displaying a current purple permit may not park in the Fine Arts Center Parking Lot at any time and may not park in any of the other lots on the main campus between 7:30am and 5:30pm with the exception of the Southwest Lot (Lot 1) and Track and Tennis Lot (Lot 7). Students displaying a current purple parking permit may not park in lots posted “No Overnight Parking from 2am–6am” during the restricted time.
• On campus students with motorcycle permits must park in the appropriate resident lot. Commuter students must park in a regular parking space where commuter parking is allowed or in the designated motorcycle parking area on the south side of the CFAC in Lot 10.

General areas where you may not park

• In posted short term parking lots longer than the posted maximum time limit of 30 minutes.
• In areas posted for staff between the times posted on the signs for that area, unless you are a staff member.
• In any area posted for visitor parking.
• In any area reserved for a special purpose which you do not qualify for.
• In any space designated for the handicapped, unless you or your passenger have a state-issued handicap permit.
• On a roadway, unless instructed to do so by authorized parking attendants retained by Campus Safety.
• In any area posted no parking anytime.
• In driveways, beside landscaped islands, on lawns, on walkways, or in any place not marked as a parking space.
• In the neighborhoods adjacent to campus, between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday, unless you reside at the residence where you park.
• The use of emergency hazard lights (i.e. “flashers”) will not excuse illegal parking.

If your vehicle has mechanical problems or if you are unable to move your vehicle

Vehicles parked illegally or overnight due to mechanical problems or extenuating circumstances must be reported immediately to Campus Safety dispatch day or night at (616) 526-6452 or else a violation may be issued.

Campus driving

• The driving regulations and requirements of the Michigan Motor Vehicle Code shall apply to all roadways and parking lots on campus.
• The posted speed limit on campus roadways is 25 mph, unless otherwise posted.
• Drivers must STOP at stop signs.
• Drivers must YIELD to pedestrians in all designated crosswalks as pedestrians have the right of way at all times.
• Driving on walkways is not allowed without prior permission being obtained from Campus Safety.
• If a driving infraction is observed by Campus Safety and attempting to make contact with the vehicle might jeopardize the safety of others, a college traffic violation may be mailed directly to the registered owner of the vehicle.
• Traffic accidents occurring on campus must be reported to Campus Safety. Traffic accidents involving personal injury will also be reported to the police and Student Life Office.

Pedestrian responsibilities

• To ensure personal safety, pedestrians are required to use designated walkways instead of walking on the campus roadways.
• Pedestrians should use Calvin's Crossing or other designated crosswalks to cross the East Beltline. Anyone who chooses to improperly cross the Beltline at other points will be subject to a $50.00 fine for their first offense and $100.00 for any subsequent violation.

Fines

The following fines will be levied for these offenses at the rate indicated:

• No current parking permit $50.00
• Permit improperly or not displayed $20.00
• General parking fines $20.00
• Handicapped parking $50.00
• Disregarding stop sign $25.00
• Moving violations $25.00 + additional assessments TBD*

*Factors that determine additional assessments are speed, recklessness or any damage done by the action of the vehicle/driver.

Payment of fines

• Fines for violations not paid within seven calendar days will be charged to the student's miscellaneous account and will require payment at Financial Services.
• Pay should be paid online at: calvin.thepermitstore.com

Appeals

Appeals of violations must be submitted within seven calendar days of the date the violation was issued. The appeal must be submitted online at ThePermitStore. If it is determined that a violation was written in error, Campus Safety will revoke the violation. All other appeals will be forwarded to the traffic violation appeal board, which consists of a committee outside of the Campus Safety Department. The appellant will be notified by email of the board's decision, which is final. The fines for appeals which are denied or adjusted will be placed on a student's miscellaneous account at Financial Services if the violations are more than seven days old.

Traffic Violation Appeal Process

Please read the following before submitting your appeal form.

Traffic violations are issued for infractions of established University parking and driving regulations. An appeal should be based on the premise that the violation issued was not consistent with the Calvin parking and driving regulations, or that special extenuating circumstances exist that should excuse the appellant from compliance with those regulations. Appeals must be submitted in writing within 7 calendar days of the violation date. Appeals which are submitted more than 7 calendar days after the violation date will not be considered.

Appeals will initially be reviewed by the campus safety office to see if the violation has been written in error. If the violation is found to have been written in error, the campus safety office can revoke the violation and you will be notified in writing of this action.

All appeals of violations not written in error will be forwarded to the traffic violations appeal board. By filing an appeal, the appellant and campus safety agree to accept the board’s decision as final and binding. The traffic violations appeal board is the final University ruling regarding traffic violations. You will be notified of the board's decision in writing.

The appeal board consists of students, staff members and faculty and requires a quorum of 3 members to review appeals and render decisions. The board only considers appeals in writing and meets on a regular basis to read these appeals and make their decision.

The appeal board has authority to deny an appeal of a violation, sustain an appeal of a violation, or alter the violation to one that they consider to more appropriately define the infraction.

The appeal board attempts to make its decision based on the parking/driving regulations of this institution.

The following are situations that are typically NOT accepted as valid extenuating circumstances for parking or driving in violation of Calvin’s parking and driving regulations:

• An appeal based on the lack of a parking permit. All motor vehicles possessed or used on campus must be registered with the campus safety office as soon as operation of said vehicle begins on the campus.
• An appeal based on how long you were parked in violation. Officers will issue a citation to any vehicle parked in violation of regulations. An appeal that states that the vehicle was only parked for two minutes, five minutes, etc is not considered valid. A parking restriction holds for parking for any period of time.
• An appeal based on your need to get to class/work/an appointment on time.  It typically requires a few minutes to locate a parking space within the campus' parking system.  It is suggested that drivers plan their schedules such that there is sufficient time to find and park in a legal space and allow for extra walking time.
• An appeal based on lack of a parking space near your destination.  Parking spaces are very competitive, and the campus' parking system doesn't guarantee a space in a specific lot. Drivers must park in a legal space in a lot valid for their permit.
• An appeal based on the appellant's assertion that they did not see the sign or line markings.  It is the driver's responsibility to note and comply with all posted signage, notices, and line markings.
• An appeal based on lack of knowledge of the regulations.  It is the driver’s responsibility to read and familiarize themselves with the parking and driving regulations. Your opinion that the parking rules are unfair is not a legitimate basis for appeal.
• An appeal based on the assertion that someone else was using your vehicle.  Loaning a vehicle to another driver does not excuse the owner from violations incurred by the vehicle.
• An appeal based on the assertion that you did not receive a violation on your vehicle.  As long as there is record of the violation being written, it is considered valid. In some cases, the nature of the violation may require that the violation is mailed to the registrant, such as a moving violation.
• An appeal based on a vehicle malfunction.  Drivers who experience a vehicle malfunction and cannot move their vehicle (for example: out of a lot that prohibits overnight parking) must report their vehicle as disabled to campus safety immediately at x6-6452, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Use of four-way hazard flashers.  Four-way flashers are designed to warn other motorists that your vehicle may be a hazard. Use of four-way flashers does not allow you to park illegally for any period of time. The use of four-way flashers or other vehicle lights is necessary and only recognized as legitimate in posted short-term parking areas near residence halls and apartments.

If after reviewing the above information, you believe you have not violated the parking and driving regulations and have just cause to file an appeal, you should fill out this form.

Note: Under the Pay Notices section, enter your license plate and notice number to reach the appeal form.

Traffic Violation Appeal Form

Repeated violations

Students who accumulate a total of eight violations during an academic year will receive notification that any fines thereafter will be doubled.

Rights and responsibilties

• All violations issued to a vehicle shall be the responsibility of the person in whose name it is registered with the university. All violations issued to vehicles not registered with the university will be assigned to the appropriate parties.
• The university assumes no responsibility for lost or damaged vehicles or their contents, driven or parked on campus.
• The university reserves the right to remove at the owner's expense unlawfully parked or inoperable vehicles left for extended periods of time. Vehicles without current license plates or without a current Calvin parking permit are subject to impoundment.
• The university reserves the right to immobilize or impound a vehicle at the owner's expense when a vehicle has repeatedly been in violation of the parking regulations or whenever warranted by immediate circumstance. All towing and impound fees will be the sole responsibility of the vehicle owner.
• The university reserves the right to use applicable means to identify the users of vehicles on campus. A fee of $35 may be assessed if Campus Safety is required to obtain state vehicle registration information in order to identify the registered owner or user of any vehicle on university property. A fee of $35 will be assessed for the removal of an immobilization device from a vehicle.