|
|
|
Violations/Resolutions of Citations
According to the Texas Education Code (Section 51.202), a person who violates these regulations as established by the University of Houston Board of Regents is guilty of a misdemeanor and if convicted may be punished by a fine of not more than $500. Officers of the University Police Department are authorized to issue three types of citations for violations of campus parking and traffic regulations, as well as University order violations. Citations can be a warning citation, a University of Houston-Clear Lake citation or a Harris County citation. When a citation is received, the following options are available:
|
 |
|
A. County Citation - Pay the fine or request a trial date. This is handled through the Justice of the Peace, Pct. 8. County Citations constitute a summons to appear before the PCT. 8 Court. Failure to resolve or appear before the Justice of the Peace may result in arrest. Additional penalties and fines may be imposed by the court beyond the established University Reinstatement Fees for violations of the Traffic and Parking Regulations of University of Houston-Clear Lake. County Citations appear on the driving record and may impact insurance premiums as well.
B. University Citation – Pay the reinstatement fee through the University Police Department, as shown on the enclosed fee table. After 14 days of issuance, in addition to the reinstatement fees, additional enforcement in the following forms may occur:
1. Student - encumbrance of records and doubling of the reinstatement fees. Future parking permit denied until outstanding fees are paid.
2. Employee/Visitor – Future parking permit denied until outstanding fees are paid and/or revocation of parking privileges on campus enforced by towing.
C. Parking Violations
|
1. |
Parking where prohibited by signs or markings. |
$50.00 |
|
2. |
Parking in area not designated a parking space |
$30.00 |
|
3. |
Overtime Parking |
$30.00 |
|
4. |
Blocking a crosswalk or sidewalk |
$30.00 |
|
5. |
Failure to park within lines of designated space |
$30.00 |
|
6. |
Failure to display a current parking permit |
$40.00 |
|
7. |
Parking with parking permit improperly displayed |
$40.00 |
|
8. |
Parking in a reserved space or area |
$30.00 |
|
9. |
Blocking a driving lane |
$30.00 |
|
10. |
Parking within fifteen feet of a fire hydrant |
$75.00 |
|
11. |
Parking illegally in a handicap space or ramp |
$75.00 |
|
12. |
Parking in a tow-away or fire zone |
$75.00 |
|
13. |
Other parking violation (as indicated on citation) |
$30.00 |
|
|
|
Back to Top |
D. Moving Violations
|
14. |
Speeding (Above posted speeds) |
$50.00 |
|
15. |
Failure to obey stop sign or red light |
$50.00 |
|
16. |
Going the wrong way on a street or drive |
$50.00 |
|
17. |
Failure to yield right of way (on street/crosswalk) |
$50.00 |
|
18. |
Driving on sidewalks or off road ways |
$50.00 |
|
19. |
Other moving violations (indicated on citation) |
$50.00 |
|
|
|
Back to Top |
|
|
|
E. Additional Traffic / Parking / University Order Violations
|
20. |
Altering/moving traffic control devices. |
$50.00 |
|
21. |
Displaying stolen or lost permit |
$100.00 |
|
22. |
Displaying forged or altered permit |
$100.00 |
|
23. |
Failure to observe temporary traffic/parking signs |
$50.00 |
|
24. |
Littering on campus |
$50.00 |
|
25. |
Hunting or fishing on campus |
$50.00 |
|
26. |
Fires or camping on campus |
$50.00 |
|
27. |
Bringing animal into campus building w/o University approval (except official human assistance animals) |
$30.00 |
|
28. |
Having unleashed animals on campus grounds. All animals must be under the control of a person by means of a leash no longer than 15 feet in length, and that leash must be sufficient to control the animal |
$30.00 |
|
29. |
Smoking where prohibited on campus |
$30.00 |
|
30. |
Failure to identify oneself on campus when asked by a University Police Officer (this also can be a custodial offense through the county courts) |
$40.00 |
|
|
|
Back to Top |
|
|
|
F. Appeals Process
1. Moving violations (Violations 14-19) cannot be appealed; however, the owner/operator of the vehicle may request the University Police to transfer the University Citation to a County Citation. Once transferred to county court, county rules and regulations apply (See Section VI. A. County Citations).
2. Additional Traffic / Parking / University Order Violations (Violations 20-30) may be appealed to the Chief of Police within 14 days of issuance. Appeals should be sent to policechief@uhcl.edu. The decision of the Chief of Police will be final.
3. Parking violations (Violations 1-13) may be appealed through the University Parking Citation Appeals Committee. Appeals of parking violations must be made and received within 14 days of issuance. Parking violation appeal requests must be made in person at the University Police Department (Bayou 1636).
4. If the owner/operator of the vehicle believes a citation was issued in error, an appeal can be filed. There must be substantial and validated evidence that the parking violation was not committed. Valid documentation of the evidence must be provided when the appeal is submitted, or the appeal will not be accepted.
5. The following reasons are considered frivolous and not valid as a basis for appeal:
-
Lack of Knowledge of the regulations, including the claim of being new to campus or not having reviewed the regualtions.
-
Other vehicles were parked improperly.
-
Only parked illegally for a short period of time.
-
Late to class or an appointment.
-
Unable to pay fine.
-
No other place to park.
-
Forgot to bring or hang permit.
-
Permit fell off.
6. The University Police reserves the right to deny the appeal option to anyone who is not filing a legitimate appeal.
7. If a request to appear in person before the Parking Citation Appeals Committee has been indicated on the appeal form, the appellant will be notified of the time and place of the committee meeting. If the appellant does not wish to appear before the Parking Citation Appeals Committee, the appeal will be evaluated solely on the information provided within the appeal form.
8. Once the committee makes a decision on an appeal, written notification will be sent to the appellant. If the committee does not decide in favor of the appellant, the individual has 14 days from the time of notification to resolve the citation. Failure to do so will result in the following:
a. Student - encumbrance of records and doubling of the reinstatement fees. Future parking permit denied until outstanding fees are paid.
b. Employee/Visitor – Future parking permit denied until outstanding fees are paid and / or revocation of parking privileges on campus enforced by towing.
Back to Top
|
|
|
G. UH-Clear Lake Parking Citation Appeals Committee – UH-Clear Lake Parking Citation Appeals Committee is an administrative body appointed by the University President with the authority to hear appeals of administrative parking citations issued by the University Police. The function of the Committee is to decide by a majority vote the merit of appeals presented to them as prescribed by the University Traffic Regulations. The Committee’s decisions are final. There is no further appeal option beyond the Parking Citation Appeals Committee. The Committee is composed of five members. When possible, the committee members will represents various segments of the university community: student (preferably one undergraduate student and one graduate student), PASA (staff), and faculty representation. One of these members will serve as the Committee Chair-person. The Chief of Police also serves on the committee as a sixth, non-voting member. The Chief organizes the appeal paperwork, enforces the Committee’s decision, and is available to the committee and appellants for clarifications and questions. The committee officially reaches a quorum if at least three of its five voting members are present.
|
|
|
|
