MATT VOLZ
Editor in Chief
Driving on campus can be a hassle, especially for new students who are not familiar with the area.
Nobody wants to begin their college career with a ticket.
Some schools do not allow freshmen to have vehicles on campus, but Fredonia does.
However, it’s important to know the rules and regulations before coming to school in the fall.
Vehicle Registration
All students who have a car on campus must register their vehicle with University Police, which can be done online.
Registration is free of charge, but it must be done as soon as possible to avoid receiving a ticket.
An email will be sent to all students in mid-July with the updated link to register.
After filling out the form, students can expect their parking sticker to be mailed to them at their home address.
The sticker must be placed in one of two locations, either on the driver’s side rear window or on the driver’s side of the back bumper.
If students do not register by mid-August, they will need to pick up stickers in person, according to University Police Chief Gordon Carpenter.
“We’re going to make ourselves available during move-in weekend and the week after to sit down in the lobby of Gregory Hall,” he said. “If [students] don’t [register] or they forget to [register], we’ll have an opportunity for them to show up to the table and pick it up after they’ve registered online.”
At the beginning of the semester, all vehicles must be registered within one week of the first day of classes.
Sometimes, students may also need to have other cars on campus for whatever reason.
In this case, students must contact University Police as soon as possible to notify them of the car’s information and how long they will have it on campus to avoid being ticketed.
Also, anyone who brings a new vehicle onto campus during the semester must register within 48 hours.
Parking
Parking can sometimes be tricky at Fredonia, especially once the semester gets rolling and lots fill up with student and faculty cars each morning.
During the day, most parking lots are open to all students. However, be sure to note whether or not there is a time limit on those spots.
For example, spots along Old Main Drive in front of University Commons are only 30-minute parking spots, so don’t stay there too long or you might wind up with a ticket.
There are also certain locations designated as loading or unloading zones, and it is often the case that cars may only be parked there for 15 minutes at a time.
Some parking lots also have reserved spots, either for specific people or visiting tour groups.
Even if there is nobody in the spot and you need somewhere to park, do not risk it. They are reserved for a reason, and University Police could ticket you for being unlawfully parked.
You’ll especially want to be careful of spots that are designated as tow-away zones. If you’re parked for too long in one of these spots, you might return to find that your car has been towed regardless of whether you’ve been ticketed before or not.
At night, be sure to park in a lot that allows for overnight parking.
Lots 9A, 9B and 9C along Ring Road are open for parking at any time, and many students living in the dorms choose to leave their cars there overnight.
Lot 9D, the closest lot to University Village, is also open to all students if it isn’t full. But be mindful of students who live in the townhouses, as they have the primary privilege of parking in this lot.
Lot 26 near Igoe Hall and Hendrix Hall is also open for students to park overnight, and this may be the best option for students living in the suites.
“[Lot 26] used to be just for Igoe and Hendrix, but now everybody’s parking there and we’re not enforcing it,” said Lieutenant Brian Studley.
Lot 27 near the turf field and Steele Hall is also an overnight option, but this lot is primarily used by athletes who park there while their teams are out of town.
Near the corridors, Lot 19A has one section of overnight parking for all students, but the rest of the lot is reserved for University Commons residents to leave their cars overnight.
Tickets and Penalties
If any vehicle-related violations occur, students may receive a ticket from University Police.
Tickets come with a fine of $25 for the driver’s first offense and $10 for each subsequent offense.
Payment of all tickets goes through Student Accounts, and fines can be paid online, in person or by mail.
To pay online, students can go to https://ww2.fredonia.edu/parking and sign in with their eServices login information.
If you receive a ticket, you can appeal the penalty within seven days by going to https://www.fredonia.edu/about/offices/university-police/appeal.
Outside of ticketing, University Police may take further action against subsequent violations.
Anyone who receives five tickets within an academic year will be placed on the tow list, meaning the driver’s vehicle will automatically be towed upon receiving any more tickets.
If a driver receives 10 or more tickets within one academic year, University Police reserves the right to revoke their parking privileges altogether.
This policy applies regardless of whether the tickets were paid in full or not.
Contacting University Police
University Police has a specific parking unit, complete with its own window on the second floor of Gregory Hall.
Students can come to the parking window in person or contact parking@fredonia.edu with any questions or concerns.
The parking unit also has its own phone number and can be contacted at 716-673-2222.
More information will be made available to students via email later in the summer.
If any questions or emergencies arise, students can contact University Police by phone at 716-673-3333 or by email at upd@fredonia.edu.
The department’s barracks can be found on the second floor of Gregory Hall.
The complete list of Fredonia’s parking regulations is available online at https://www.fredonia.edu/about/offices/university-police/parking-regulations.
