Parking and Traffic Regulations

1. Overview

These regulations apply to all vehicles and drivers on University property, including students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Parking on campus is a privilege, and all users are responsible for following these rules.

2. ePermits & Vehicle Registration

SRU uses a license plate recognition system—the vehicle license plate is registered as your permit (no decal required).

All vehicles must be registered before parking on campus.  Register for an electronic permit (ePermit) at www.sru.edu/parking or visit the Parking Office (203 Campus Success Center).

EPermits are registered to a specific vehicle and can only be transferred by the Parking Office.  Contact the Parking Office by phone or email to update your registration if you change vehicles.

EPermits are invalidated upon status change (withdrawal from school, termination of employment, change of residency, etc.).

3. Types of Permits and Fees

• Student ePermits and Fees
  • Commuter student parking: $50 per semester
  • Resident on-campus parking: $50 per semester
  • Resident satellite parking: $25 per year
• Faculty/Staff ePermits
  • Faculty and staff may register two vehicles at no charge; additional permits are $25.
  • SRU faculty/staff ePermits are renewed biannually.
  • Personnel working at Slippery Rock University who are employed by other companies (e.g. food service workers) are eligible for special faculty/staff ePermits.
• Visitor ePermits
  • Visitors may register online for a parking permit valid for up to three days at no charge.
  • Contact the Parking Office for special circumstances.
  • Faculty, staff, and students are not eligible for visitor permits.
• Temporary ePermits
  • A temporary ePermit is issued when a registered vehicle needs to be replaced by a substitute vehicle due to car repairs or similar issues.
  • Temporary ePermits are limited to two weeks per semester per person.
  • Temporary ePermits have the same parking privileges as the original permit.
• ARC ePermits
  • An ARC ePermit is issued to community members with memberships to the Aebersold Recreation Center.
  • ARC ePermits expire when ARC membership ends.
  • ARC ePermits must be renewed annually.
• Medical ePermits
  • Medical ePermits are issued when documentation of an injury or disabling condition requires special parking consideration.
  • Medical ePermits DO NOT authorize parking in handicap-accessible spaces.  A state-issued placard or license plate is required for these spaces.
  • Medical ePermits are issued for a maximum of three weeks per semester.  Application for a state placard should be made if the disabling condition or injury is expected to last longer.

4. Parking Times & Open Parking

Permit Enforcement Hours

• Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• During this time, park only in your designated lot (resident, commuter, staff, satellite, etc.).
  • Orange designated lots are for residential students with on-campus permits
  • Green designated lots are for commuter student parking
  • Red designated lots are for faculty/staff parking
  • Yellow designated lots are open to any on-campus parking permit (resident on campus, commuter, faculty/staff, or visitor)
  • The Resident Satellite Lot is located at 1 Vineyard Circle in the overflow parking lot at the University Village Apartments.  Residential students with satellite parking permits may not park on campus in Orange, Green, Red, or Yellow lots during enforcement hours.
  • Visitor and Medical permits are valid in any lot
  • ARC ePermits are valid only in the East Lake Lot

Permits are NOT required:

• Weekdays: 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 a.m.
• Weekends: Friday 5:00 p.m. – Monday 7:30 a.m.
• Major holidays and academic breaks
• Summer months between spring and fall semesters

During these times, parking lots are open except for reserved spaces.

Reserved Spaces (Enforced at All Times)

• Handicap/ADA spaces (must have state-issued placard)
• Fire lanes or near hydrants
• Loading zones
• Admissions and Alumni Visitor spaces (without permit)
• Maintenance or restricted areas
• Grass, sidewalks, crosswalks, or roadways
• “No Parking” or time-restricted areas
• Spaces reserved by signage (e.g. Resident Coordinator Only, etc.)

5. Important Parking Rules

• Back-in and pull-through parking are prohibited.  License plates must be visible for the license plate recognition enforcement readers.
• Park within lines and only in designated spaces.
• Observe all traffic signs and speed limits (25 mph roads, 15 mph lots).
• Parking that blocks traffic, entrances, or exits may result in towing.

6. Special Restrictions

Overnight Parking (Nov 1 – Apr 1)

• No parking 2:00 a.m. – 5:30 a.m. in designated commuter lots: Alumni, Campus Success, and Founders Lower (regardless of weather).

15/30-Minute Spaces

• Flashers must be on.
• Must have a valid permit.
• Strictly enforced 24/7.

7. Enforcement and Citations

Slippery Rock University Police enforce traffic laws and parking regulations.  A license plate recognition system is used to enforce parking lot restrictions.

Common Violations

• No ePermit: $50
• Restricted parking: $30
• Improper parking (grass, sidewalk, etc.): $30
• Backing in: $5

Serious Violations

• Handicap violation: $100–$200
• Fire lane: $25–$75

Citations are issued by electronic mail.  If no email address is available, the citation is mailed to the address associated with the vehicle registration. 

8. Citation Appeals

• Appeals must be submitted online within 7 days by following the instructions in the citation correspondence.
• Appeals are reviewed by the University Police, and decisions are final after one review.
• Appeal decisions are communicated via email.
• The citation must be paid if the appeal is denied.
• Some violations can only be appealed by requesting a hearing with the Magistrate, including:
  • Handicap violations
  • Fire lane violations
  • “No Parking” violations

9. Unpaid Tickets & Enforcement

Vehicle Immobilization

• Vehicles may be booted if there are 5 or more unpaid tickets OR $150+ in fines
• A boot fee of $25 is assessed when a vehicle is immobilized.
• The vehicle may be towed after 48 hours
• Must pay full amount due for removal of boot

Additional Consequences:

• Student accounts may be placed on hold to prevent issuance of a diploma.
• Unpaid fines may be sent to collections or magistrate

10. Towing & Disabled Vehicles

• Vehicles may be towed if:
  • Illegally parked
  • Blocking traffic
  • Abandoned or unregistered
• Disabled vehicles must:
  • Be reported immediately to the Parking Office (during office hours) or University Police (after office hours).
  • A temporary permit (valid up to 48 hours) will be issued if needed.

11. Payment Information

All fees for ePermits and citations should be paid online at www.sru.edu/parking.  Fees may also be paid in the Parking Office.

• Credit and debit cards are the preferred methods of payment.
• Checks made payable to Slippery Rock University are also accepted.  A fee of $30 will be assessed for a returned check.
• No cash accepted

12. Additional Policies

• All purchases of ePermits are final and non-refundable.
• Prepayment and overpayment of fees are not accepted.
• Motorcycles need to be registered with an ePermit.  Motorcycles may be parked in specially designated motorcycle spaces or in vehicle spaces.
• Notes on dashboards do not prevent tickets.
• The University is not responsible for vehicle damage.
• Notifications regarding parking updates and changes are issued through the Campus Updates email newsletter produced by University Marketing and Communication.