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PSU PARKING INFORMATION

Parking Rules and Regulations

Thank you for taking the time to familiarize yourself with these campus parking rules and regulations. These are the most up-to-date rules and regulations for parking at Plymouth State University.  FACULTY AND STAFF, NOTE THAT YOU CAN NO LONGER PARK IN ANY COMMUTER PARKING LOTS!

Before you buy your permit, please be certain that you are familiar with these rules. When you buy a permit through thepermitstore.com (Iparq) you are acknowledging that you have read and understood the rules and regulations. Questions may be directed to the PSU University Police.

Monday - Thursday 7:30AM - 4:00PM 
Friday 7:30AM - 3:30PM 

All About Permits

Do I Need a Permit to Park at PSU?
What Kind of Permit Do I Need?
Student Parking Faculty and Staff Parking
Handicapped Parking Visitor parking permits
Can I park in visitor or other designated parking spaces?
What is “Misuse of Permit”?
Where Should I Put My Permit?
How Long Does My Permit Last?
How Do I Buy a Permit?
What Is “Activating” My Permit?
I Just Got a New Car. What Should I Do with My Permit?
My Car’s in the Shop. What about This Loaner?
What Are the Parking Violations?
Oops! I Didn’t Pay My Tickets!
This Ticket Wasn’t Fair!
Dude! Where’s My Car?
Illegally Parked Cars
Flooding
Construction or Special Circumstances
Frequently Asked Questions

 

Do I Need a Permit to Park at PSU?

Yes. To park on University property, your vehicle must display the appropriate parking permit and be parked in an appropriate lot. Vehicles parked in PSU lots without a permit are subject to a fine of $100.00 and may be towed at the owner’s expense. Be aware that vehicles parked in PSU parking facilities or on any PSU property are parked at the owner’s risk. PSU is not responsible for any theft or damage. All parking lots are numbered and have a sign at the entrance indicating who can park there. Please note: Student vehicles are not allowed in faculty/staff parking lots at any time. Back to top

What Kind of Permit Do I Need?

Plymouth State University has several different types of parking permits. Parking permits are available through www.thepermitstore.com. Back to top

Student Parking

Graduate Student Permits:
To park on University property, your vehicle must display the appropriate parking permit and be parked in designated lots. Vehicles parked in PSU lots without a permit are subject to a fine of $100 and may be towed at the owner’s expense. Be aware that vehicles parked in PSU parking facilities or on any PSU property are parked at the owner’s risk.

PSU is not responsible for any theft or damage. All parking lots are numbered and have a sign at the entrance indicating who can park there. Please note: student vehicles are not allowed in faculty/staff parking lots at any time. Go to thepermitstore.com to purchase a parking permit.

Available Permits

  • Commuter: Allows you to park for one year from July 1– June 30 in any commuter lot (main campus or PE Center) during the day and evening.
  • Per term: Allows you to park in any commuter lot (main campus or PE Center) during the day and evening, but is valid for one term only and must be renewed each term.

Residential permits:
• Residential South Parking Permits are for students who live in Pemi, Belknap, Samuel Reed Hall, Blair or Mary Lyon. This permit is only for Residential South designated parking.
• Residential North Parking Permits are for students who live in Grafton, Smith, White Mountain Apartment Complex, Non-Traditional Student Apartments or Langdon Woods. This permit is only for Residential North designated parking.

Residential permits are for students with 50 or more credits, or who have reached the age of 21 on or before September 1 of the academic year. These permits cost $125.00. Residential North and Residential South permits are limited by the number of available spaces in those lots and are sold on a first-come-first-served basis. PSU provides thepermitstore.com with a list of students who meet the criteria for each of these permits. However, it is possible that you may meet these criteria and not be on the list. If you are denied access to this permit when you apply, contact PSU University Police. If these permits are sold out, you may still purchase a restricted permit (see below). Back to top

Restricted permits are for students who live in PSU residence halls or campus apartments, but don’t meet the credits earned or age requirement for a residential permit, or were not able to obtain a residential permit because they were sold out. This permit costs $95.00. Restricted parking is available in our East Side Parking Facilities, located at the PSU Facilities Services building across from the Physical Education Center. Lots 602 and 603 are also for restricted permit holders. The PSU campus shuttle provides transportation from this location to the main campus. Overflow parking for restricted permit holders is available in lot 502 at the Physical Education Center in the first five rows of the parking lot. The rest of lot 502 is only for visitors and restricted commuter permits and is not available for overnight parking at any time. Be aware: Restricted permits don’t allow you to park in any other lot other than those located in the East Side Parking Facilities. Parking in any lot on the main campus will result in fines or towing. Back to top

Commuter permits are for students who live outside of the one-mile radius of campus, who have earned 50 credits or who have reached the age of 21 on or before September 1 of the academic year. With a commuter permit, you may park in any of the designated commuter lots on the main campus. This permit costs $95.00. Vehicles with commuter permits may not park in faculty/staff or residential parking lots at any time. Back to top

Restricted commuter permits are for students who live outside of the one-mile radius of campus, who have not earned 50 credits or who have not reached the age of 21 on or before September 1 of the academic year. This permit costs $50.00. With this permit, you may park in the daytime in lot 503 at the Physical Education Center. This permit does not allow you to park on the main campus during the daytime hours, even in a commuter parking lot. However, restricted commuters may park in any commuter parking lot on the main campus after 4 p.m. There is no overnight parking in any commuter lot, including 503 at the PE Center. This is strictly enforced by fines and towing. If you need to park your vehicle overnight, you may use lot 502, 602 or 603. Back to top

Continuing Education permit  Is now called THE FROST SCHOOL PERMIT parking is available to students who live within the one-mile radius of campus and wish to park on campus in the evenings for safety or convenience. This is also for matriculated and non-matriculated students from the Frost School.   This permit costs $30.00 per semester and allows you to park in commuter lots after 6 p.m.  If attending for both semesters, you can buy the commuter for $95.00, if during the day or $50.00 for the night time restricted if you are a night student. Be aware: Overnight parking in commuter lots is prohibited and is strictly enforced by fines and towing. Parking after midnight is considered overnight parking. Back to top

Winterim/Summer permit  is now called the THE FROST SCHOOLSUMMER/WINTERIM PERMIT parking is available to students who are attending winterim session (same as summer session) for those who don't already have a permit.  This permit is $25.00. Parking in assigned student lots only.

Faculty and Staff Parking See Important Change to Faculty Staff Parking Effective August 14, 2006.

Faculty/staff permits are for the University’s employees, including full- and part-time faculty, faculty emeriti, PAs, PATs and O/S staff, as well as most supplemental staff (not including those paid through student hourly or work study). Permits are available online at thepermitstore.com at no cost to the employee. There are various faculty/staff lots throughout the campus. Faculty/staff vehicles may not park in any  lot.  This includes Commuter lots.  Previously it was permissible to use Commuter Lots when no Faculty/Staff spaces were available, this has now changed, we have significantly increased the number of Faculty/Staff spaces to accommodate this new rule.   A faculty/staff permit does not need to be renewed for 10 years. Faculty/staff permits are issued on a pre-qualification basis. Thepermitstore.com will not issue a faculty/staff permit to anyone who is not pre-authorized. New employees must contact PSU University Police to be added to the list of authorized persons. Back to top

Handicapped Parking

Regular handicapped parking permits are obtained through the State Department of Motor Vehicles, not Plymouth State University. With a regular handicapped parking permit, you may park in any handicapped parking areas, on or off campus.

Parking in a designated handicapped parking space without the appropriate permit, plate or placard will result in fines and towing. Back to top

Visitors

Visitor parking permits and temporary permits for vehicles that will be on campus for short periods of time are available from the PSU University Police. Visitor permits are also available from any residence hall. Weekend visitors with a visitor permit may park in lot 301 or lot 401from Friday evening at 6 p.m. until Sunday evening at 6 p.m. Weekday visitor parking is available during the day in lot 503 at the Physical Education Center, and overnight visitor parking is available in lot 502 at the PE Center. Overnight parking is prohibited in any other lot at the PE Center and is strictly enforced. Failure to properly permit your vehicle can result in costly fines and towing. Back to top

Can I Park in Visitor or Other Designated Parking Spaces?

There are several types of designated parking spaces on campus. Misusing these spaces will result in fines and towing.

• Visitor spaces are provided in lots throughout the campus. These spaces are short-term parking for persons visiting Plymouth State University. These spaces are not for student, faculty or staff use.

• The 15-minute spaces provided in key areas are for those times when students, faculty and staff need very short-term parking, such as loading and unloading a vehicle.

• Spaces marked “physical plant parking only” or “food service parking only” are just that. They are for use only by those entities because they need immediate access to certain areas to provide services to the community. Back to top

What is “Misuse of Permit”?

Before obtaining a permit, it is your responsibility to read and understand the rules and regulations of parking at PSU. Anyone who provides false information to obtain a permit, obtains a permit for another person who is not qualified for a permit, alters, transfers or duplicates any permit or facsimile, or who knowingly obtains a permit for which he or she does not qualify, is subject to a fine of $100.00 and possible disciplinary action through the Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Programs, and may lose the privilege of bringing a vehicle onto PSU property. Duplication and sale or transfer of a permit may also result in arrest and prosecution. If you have a question about which permit you are qualified for, contact University Police before obtaining a permit to ensure that you receive the appropriate one. Other “misuse of permit” violations include applying your permit in the wrong place on your vehicle (see below) or failing to update your information on thepermitstore.com when you change vehicles. Back to top

Where Should I Put My Permit?

The location of your permit on your vehicle is actually very important. Please note this change: As of this year, your permit must be applied to the rear door window on the driver’s side of your vehicle. If you have a pick-up truck, place the permit on the driver’s side window. Do not place your permit on the rear windshield, as was done in the past. Please be certain to apply your permit in the right place on your vehicle. Permits that are not applied properly are considered a “misuse of permit” violation. Back to top

How Long Does My Permit Last?

The expiration date for student permits is May 31 of each academic year. New permits must be obtained each year. Permit fees are based on an academic year and are not prorated for permits purchased during the second semester, nor can we refund for permits that are used only during the first semester. Faculty/staff permits are good for 10 years. Back to top

How Do I Buy a Permit?

You can buy a parking permit online from thepermitstore.com and pay for it there with your Discover, Mastercard, Visa or American Express card. You may also pay by check, but your permit can’t be mailed to you until thepermitstore.com has received your check. During the online registration/permit process, you can choose check as your method of payment and complete the process. thepermitstore.com imposes fees for failed or cancelled credit card transactions or returned checks. In such cases, permits may be revoked by PSU University Police until disputes are resolved. Back to top

What Is “Activating” My Permit?

This measure is for your protection. Once a permit has been received, you must go online to thepermitstore.com and activate your permit before it is placed on your vehicle. This is a security measure to assure that you are the person who received the permit assigned to your vehicle. Failure to activate your permit will result in a fine and is strictly enforced. Should you lose your permit or if your permit is stolen, you must report it immediately by going online to thepermitstore.com. Back to top

I Just Got a New Car. What Should I Do with My Permit?

You may transfer your permit to another vehicle that you own by going online to thepermitstore.com and editing your vehicle information. You must change the vehicle information at thepermitstore.com before moving the permit, otherwise it will be a “misuse of permit” and be subject to a fine of $100.00. Back to top

My Car’s in the Shop. What about This Loaner?

If you are using a different vehicle for a short period of time, you have two options. You may obtain a temporary permit from the PSU University Police, or you may move your permit to that vehicle after making the change of vehicle information online. When you change vehicles again, you must go online again and change it back. Back to top

What Are the Parking Violations?

Citations are issued to any vehicle that violates PSU parking rules and regulations. These violations include:

• No Permit $100.00 per violation. Any vehicle that does not have a valid parking permit.
• Unauthorized Permit Area $20.00 per violation. Parking in a lot not designated for your permit.
• Overnight Parking $20.00 per violation. Parking in a lot that prohibits overnight parking (faculty/staff and commuter). Parking after midnight is considered overnight.
• Core Violation $125.00 per violation. Parking in the core of campus, areas that are designated for pedestrian traffic or for emergency and service vehicles only.
• Lot Maintenance $50.00 per violation. Residential lots have specific periods where all vehicles need to be removed for maintaining the lots, from the first snow of two or more inches through April 1, regardless of the amount of snow received. Once maintenance begins it will continue every week until April 1. Each lot has a sign to let you know exactly when vehicles must be removed.
• Handicapped Parking $125.00 per violation. Parking in any space designated handicapped parking without the appropriate permit or placard.
• Misuse of Permit $100.00 per violation. False permit, illegally obtained, traded, sold or displayed. Failure to edit vehicle information if the permit is transferred to another vehicle.
• Failure to Activate Permit $20.00 per violation. Permits must be activated before they are applied to the vehicle.
• Blocking Fire Lane $150.00 per violation.
• Designated Parking Only $20.00 per violation.
• Overtime Parking in 15- or 30-Minute Spaces $20.00 per violation.
• No Parking Zone $20.00 per violation.
• Improperly Parked (taking up additional spaces) $20.00 per violation.
• Blocking Doors, Dumpsters etc. $100.00 per violation. Back to top

Oops! I Didn’t Pay My Tickets!

Any vehicle with three or more unpaid citations or five citations (paid or unpaid) during an academic year is subject to being towed or “booted” (University Police will apply an immobilizing device commonly known as the “boot”). Immobilization devices are kept on the vehicle for not more than 24 hours. After that, the vehicle will be towed at the owner's expense and will not be released until the issues are resolved with University Police. The owner is responsible for all costs associated with towing and storage of the vehicle. There is also a fee of $60.00 for the immobilization device in addition to any other violations or towing and storage fees. Back to top

This Ticket Wasn’t Fair!

There is a citation appeal process that is done on line at www.scapay.com. There is a $50.00 fine for appeals that are deemed to be inappropriate (due to language, etc.) or frivolous in nature. Once your appeal is decided, you will be notified by e-mail. If your appeal is denied, you have the right to a personal appeal, which can be arranged through University Police. It is important that you clearly state your reasons for the appeal so that the PSU officer who decides your appeal online can make a reasonable decision. The decision resulting from the personal appeal is final.

Citations must be appealed within 10 days of being issued, and fines that are not paid within 30 days of the date the citation is issued will be doubled. After 30 days, the fines for citations are sent to the Plymouth State University Bursar's Office for billing, at which point fines can only be paid at the PSU Bursar's Office. The Bursar's Office cannot adjust or waive fines. Questions regarding fines can only be addressed through University Police. Appeals must be submitted online at www.scapay.com. Back to top

Dude! Where’s My Car?

There are several reasons cars may towed on campus:

Illegally Parked Cars: Plymouth State has the right to remove any vehicle parked contrary to rules and regulations, or causing a safety hazard or inconvenience. Towing in these situations is at the owner’s expense. The University accepts no financial liability for any costs or damages resulting from vehicles being towed from PSU property. Back to top

Flooding: Vehicles in East Side Parking sometimes have to be moved because of the threat of high water or flooding. Usually University Police has some warning and can take steps to notify people to move their vehicles onto the main campus. However, from time to time we've been surprised with rapidly rising river waters and have had very little time for notification. After making notification as best we can, we sometimes have to call in a wrecker to remove vehicles to avoid damage from the high water. Vehicles that do not have a permit or are parked illegally in those lots will be removed at the owner's expense. Owners of permitted vehicles with appropriate current student information on file will be notified, usually by e-mail which is sent out to all permit holders, telling them to move. Back to top

Construction or Special Circumstances:
Sometimes vehicles are legally parked, but may be in a situation where they are causing a problem for construction or maintenance. In these cases we may need to have them removed by calling a wrecker. Be sure your vehicle is permitted and your current correct information on file with Iparq so we can reach you to deal with a situation with your vehicle. Back to top

Frequently Asked Questions

If I never register my car with thepermitstore.com, they won't know who owns the car and won’t be able to bill me for any tickets I receive, right?

Wrong. Of course we know who owns the car. University Police can identify cited vehicles through the Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicles that park without a permit will be fined $100.00 per violation. Once the vehicle is identified it will be on the "boot" list and the citations will be submitted by thepermitstore.com to the PSU Bursar's Office for billing. By then, fines will have doubled. Failure to obtain a permit won’t get you free parking. In fact, it will end up costing you much more in fines and you could end up unable to bring your vehicle to campus at all. Back to top

How do I pay my fine for this ticket?

The ticket itself gives instructions for payment or appeal; the back of the violation slip has specific instructions. The fastest way to pay or appeal is to go online to www.scapay.com, or just place a check in the envelope along with the violation slip and mail it to

Plymouth State University Collection Authority
PO Box 2358
Santa Barbara, CA 93120-2358
Back to top

Why do my fines or appeal requests go to Santa Barbara?

PSU Police contracts with Iparq, the parent company of ww.thepermitstore.com, to manage permit sales, tracking and parking citations. Iparq is used at UNH, Keene State and many other colleges and universities in New Hampshire and across the country. Appeals and administrative review of parking permit requests are done on campus, by a hearings officer at University Police, using the Iparq system. So even though your appeal is done online, it is actually reviewed and decided on campus. Iparq collects the fines, sells and distributes the permits in cooperation with Plymouth State University. Parking rules and regulations, as well as enforcement of parking, is decided at PSU. Iparq just provides the system that we use. Back to top

I don't have a car, but my roommate does. I qualify for a residential permit and he does not. Can I register his car under my name and let him use my permit?

No way. If you register your car under someone else's name or allow them to register their car under your name, you are subject to a “misuse of permit” fine of $100.00, your permit will be revoked and your parking privileges suspended. You may also face further disciplinary action through the PSU Office of Student Conduct and Judicial Programs. Back to top

I qualify for a commuter permit but the permitstore.com says I can only purchase a restricted permit. What can I do?

Contact University Police. If you do qualify for a different permit, we will make the change and you will then be allowed to obtain the correct permit. The permitstore.com only allows you to purchase permits that PSU University Police pre-authorize. It is not thepermitstore.com's decision, so we have to make the adjustment. Back to top

What if I order the wrong permit by mistake?

You can contact thepermitstore.com by e-mail at custserv@iparq.com or by calling (800) 676-1611. If it is determined that the permit was purchased in error, thepermitstore.com will arrange for an exchange of the permit. Back to top

If I qualify for a residential permit in the spring semester, do I have to wait until next fall to get a residential permit?

If there are any residential permits available, we will consider allowing you to exchange your restricted for a residential permit for an administrative fee of $5.00. However, we cannot refund the difference between the restricted and the residential permit fees. Back to top

I get home late at night because I work, and the shuttle is not running. I don't feel comfortable walking up from Facilities Services by myself, what can I do?

Don’t worry. If the shuttle is not running, PSU University Police will give you a ride back to campus. There are phones located at the shuttle stops, call and then wait in your vehicle until the police arrive. Back to top

Are there ever any exceptions to the pre-qualifications for residential permits?

If any permits are still available after everyone qualified has had a chance to get one, we will consider special requests for permits. Usually these requests are based on a specific need to have immediate access to a vehicle. Volunteer firefighters and emergency service workers, as well as on-call military personnel often make these requests, along with people who work out of town and return to campus late at night. Decisions will be made based on specific needs and all requests must be submitted to Univer Police in writing with documentation to support the need. Persons with medical conditions that require access to vehicles but are not severe enough to require a handicapped parking permit will be given priority. Back to top

What is scapay.com? Who am I sending my money to?

Scapay.com stands for State Collection Authority Payment. This is a Web site operated through Iparq and thepermitstore.com to collect parking citation fines from all locations they serve. Your money for fines ends up back at Plymouth State University eventually; scapay just keeps track of the collections and credits your account at thepermitstore.com for any unpaid citations. Back to top

What if I don't pay my fines?

If the fines go unpaid for 30 days they will double and then be billed through the Bursar's Office. Unpaid fines will be treated like any other charge on your Bursar bill and must be paid subject to the same policies as other charges, which may include being dropped from classes or not being allowed to register for classes or obtain transcripts. Back to top

I don't have a checking account or credit card. How do I buy a permit or pay my fines online?

If you don't have a debit card, credit card or checking account, you can pay for your permit or fines by obtaining a money order through the bank or the United States Post Office and mail it to:

Plymouth State University Collection Authority
PO Box 2358
Santa Barbara, CA 93120-2358
or bring your ticket and payment to the University Police office during business hours. Back to top

I have a restricted permit but I sometimes have to load or unload my car at my residence hall. I can't carry all that stuff up from Facilities Services.

Although vehicles with restricted permits cannot park on the main campus, we do allow for those times when a vehicle has to be on campus to load or unload: when you return after being gone for the weekend or holiday or even when you do laundry or have groceries. You may park in a 15- or 30-minute space near your residence hall or campus apartment for this purpose. If none of these spaces are available, just leave a note on your vehicle (including the time you parked it) and University Police will allow a reasonable amount of time for you to park while unloading. Back to top

I paid for a permit to park in my lot, but when I got there no spaces were available. Can I park in a different lot?

Sorry, no. From time to time lots get filled with vehicles that don’t belong there. While we sympathize with the situation, and take measures to enforce parking rules by issuing
citations to those who illegally take up spaces in lots, we can’t allow you to park in another lot because there is no space available there either. Logically, if you park illegally in another lot, you will displace someone else from their own lot. Then that person may choose to park illegally in yet another lot, causing three violations instead of just one. Lack of available space is not an acceptable excuse to park inappropriately. If you find that there are vehicles in your designated lot that are not supposed to be there, contact University Police and we will send an officer to issue citations or possibly tow the vehicles involved. Back to top

I just got billed for a bunch of tickets from the Bursar's Office. I never received any tickets on my car. How can this be?

University Police issues a significant number of citations each day and the overwhelming majority of them remain on the windshield of the vehicle and the owners find the ticket. Once in a great while due to weather conditions a ticket may be swept away from the vehicle or perhaps someone comes along and removes it from the windshield, but these are rare cases. If the ticket was issued, you more than likely knew that it was there. Regardless, you still have to pay it. Back to top

PSU gives too many tickets. This is just a way to get more money out of the students!

To the person who gets citations for parking contrary to PSU rules, this may seem to be the case. But not to the person who can’t park in his or her own lot because somebody else parked there illegally.

Parking enforcement is something we have to do, not something we do to generate funding for the College. Clearly, parking is a problem everywhere. In order to be fair to everyone, enforcement is the only reasonable option. If everyone had the proper permit and parked in the appropriate lot, we would not have to issue parking citations. Unfortunately some people choose, for whatever reason, to violate the rules and this complicates the parking situation for everyone. Ask the student or faculty/staff member whose lot was so full of violators that they could not find a space this morning if University Police is enforcing parking regulations too strictly. You will get a much different answer than you will from the person who has received citations for parking illegally. Back to top

Why does University Police make all these parking rules?

University Police doesn’t make the parking rules—we just enforce them. Parking issues are addressed by the PSU Parking Committee, which is made up of students, faculty and staff. The committee meets several times throughout the year. When parking concerns and issues are brought to the committee, they recommend changes in policy and rules to the administration. Back to top
 

Plymouth State University, 17 High Street, Plymouth, NH 03264-1595. Main Switchboard: (603) 535-5000.
A member of the University System of New Hampshire. ©2005-2008. All rights reserved.
This page was last revised: 3/12/2008