Vehicle and Parking Regulations (Unabridged)

Parking on the campus and college property is limited. Therefore it is necessary to regulate parking to afford as many persons a place to park as possible. In addition, the college has an obligation to provide a safe environment to the people on campus. This requires us to keep the “FIRE LANES” on the campus clear for the passage of Schenectady Fire Department vehicles as well as ambulances and other emergency vehicles attempting to access campus.

Remember that all roadways on the campus are fire lanes and have to be kept clear at all times.

Union College assumes no responsibility or risk for any vehicle, its occupants, or property in or on the vehicle while parked or driven on Union College property. Parking on Union College property is a privilege, not a right, and a parking space is not guaranteed for each vehicle registered on campus.

All vehicles operated on the Union College Campus must be in compliance with the registration and insurance laws of the vehicle’s state of origin. That is, whatever state the vehicle is registered in, the vehicle must comply with the laws of the state of registration. The registration of the vehicle must be valid.

All vehicles operated on the Union College Campus must comply with the Union College vehicle and parking regulations and the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. These regulations apply to all areas of the campus, including but not limited to the roadways, alleys, sidewalks, walkways, parking spaces, fire lanes, and parking lots.

All motorized vehicles brought onto the campus by students, faculty, staff, or their guests must be registered with the Campus Safety Department and display a parking decal or a temporary permit.

All students must apply for and be granted permission to bring a vehicle to campus BEFORE obtaining a permit for the vehicle from Campus Safety. Applications are first-come first served with sophomores, juniors and seniors having priority. Once the priority deadline has passed, first-year students may apply and be granted permission to register a vehicle, as space permits.

If permitted, First Year students will be restricted to parking in the Nott / Seward and College Park Hall parking lots only. All other areas on campus will be off-limits at all times of the day and night. Traffic enforcement will apply to those who violate this rule.

Students seeking to obtain a permit for their vehicle must first complete an application online. Applications for the 2026-2027 academic year will open on June 1, 2026 and the priority deadline for sophomores, juniors and seniors is July 1, 2026. If any capacity remains once the priority deadline has passed, first-year students who have applied for a permit may be granted permission to register their vehicles. Once all assigned student parking has been allocated, no additional permits will be granted.

Permits may be obtained at the Campus Safety desk at College Park Hall in person or by calling (518) 388-6381 between the hours of 7 am to 7 pm and requesting the form through the mail or by fax. Permits are the property of Union College and may not be sold, transferred, given away or otherwise disposed of. The individual who is registering a vehicle must appear in person at College Park Hall to register. Permits may be paid for in cash, check, or credit card.

Fees – There is an annual registration fee for each registered vehicle. If a registration is current and you change vehicles there is no charge for a new permit IF you return the old permit to Campus Safety. When a vehicle is sold or disposed of, the permit should be returned to Campus Safety. Remember, you are responsible for all parking violations connected to the permit issued to you, even if you sell the vehicle to another. REMOVE THE PERMIT.

2025-2026 Fees

30 dollars for Returning Students

150 dollars for First Year students

When vehicles are not registered and the owner/operator fails to respond to the 3rd violation notice, the plate number may be submitted to the appropriate motor vehicle department in the state of registration to determine who the owner/operator of the vehicle is. ALL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE INQUIRY TO A DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES WILL BE BILLED TO THE OWNER/OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE.

Handicapped Parking Permits – Temporary handicapped permits are issued to persons with a temporary disability affecting mobility. Before applying to Campus Safety, individuals seeking a handicapped permit should obtain a prescription from a physician stating the duration of the disability. Authorization for students may also be obtained from Health Services at Wicker Wellness. The prescription or authorization should be presented with an application for a handicapped parking permit. Handicapped parking permits issued by Union College are not recognized by other jurisdictions. You may be subject to a penalty if you use them off-campus. You may present your prescription to a City or Town Clerk and obtain a permanent or temporary handicapped permit that will be recognized on and off-campus. Union College temporary tags are typically issued for periods of no longer than 60 days.

Parking permits should be placed in a driver’s side window, preferably the back window if it is clear and not darkened. If placed in the window of the driver’s door or driver side back door, place it in the lower right-hand corner of the window when viewed from the outside. The permit is a peel-and-stick type and should be applied on the inside of the window.

Hang tags should be hung from the interior rearview mirror, printed side facing out to the windshield.

Visitor Permits can be obtained at the desk at College Park Hall. When you anticipate the arrival of a visitor, request one at the desk. There is no charge for a visitor permit that is limited to three days. Visitor passes for up to one week will be issued under special circumstances, such as a parent attending to an ill or injured student who is remaining at school. Faculty, staff, and students are responsible for their guests, including the use of the guest’s vehicle on campus. Please advise your guests of the campus rules and regulations regarding vehicles. Visitor parking is restricted to the areas designated for visitors.

Vehicles must be parked within the lines of a marked parking space. Any area not lined as a space, or designated with a parking sign, is a NO PARKING area. The absence of a “No Parking” sign or curb marking does not mean that parking is permissible. ALL ROADWAYS ARE FIRE LANES – PARKING IS NOT PERMITTED IN A FIRE LANE.

Unless designated otherwise, “Faculty/Staff/Visitor” parking lots are restricted Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. Any signs located in the parking lot specifying restricted hours will prevail. During restricted hours, only vehicles with the appropriate decal may park in the lot.

Parking is not allowed in any loading dock area at any time.

THE SPEED LIMIT ON CAMPUS IS 15 MILES PER HOUR.

Double parking, obstructing driveways, walkways, doors, refuse containers, or other vehicles is prohibited.

Parking or driving on curbs, lawns, landscaped areas, traffic islands, or walkways is prohibited.

Tampering with, defacing, destruction, or theft of parking lot signs, markings, or traffic control devices is prohibited. Traffic control devices include but are not limited to stop signs, road chains, ropes, tape and barricades to restrict or regulate parking or access to an area. When these devices are put into place they take precedence over general parking designations on the parking map.

Handicapped parking spaces are clearly marked and restricted at all times. Only vehicles displaying a valid handicapped permit issued to a person in the vehicle may park in a handicapped space.

There are a small number of “Limited Time” spaces on campus. “Limited Time” parking spaces are restricted at all times. The restriction on these spaces is enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Approval of parking for extended times between the spring and fall semesters or ALL times where the vehicle owner can not respond in a reasonable amount of time to campus must come from the Director of Campus Safety. This applies to Faculty, Staff, and Students.

UNREGISTERED VEHICLE –
First offense – warning only – the owner/operator of the vehicle has 48 hours from the time of the violation to register the vehicle at Campus Safety.
Second offense – $25.00 charge.
Third offense – $50.00 charge – after a vehicle has received a third non-registered violation notice, it will be placed on a boot list.
The next time the vehicle is discovered on campus (fourth offense) a boot will be applied to the vehicle. The boot is a device applied to one wheel of the vehicle to immobilize the vehicle. If after three days the owner/operator fails to appear at Campus Safety to register the vehicle, the vehicle will be towed at the owner’s expense to either the Nott/Seward Lot (if space permits) or off-campus. The college will not be responsible for any damages as a result of the immobilization or towing of any vehicle. Pending adjudication through a conduct hearing, the vehicle will not be permitted on campus and the operator will not be permitted to register any vehicle.

PARKING IN A HANDICAPPED SPACE WITHOUT A VALID PERMIT DISPLAYED –
First offense – $50.00 plus towing charge.
Second offense – $20.00 plus towing charge.
In each case, the vehicle will be towed and booted. If space permits the vehicle will be towed to the Nott/Seward Lot. If space is not available the vehicle will be towed off-campus.

DRIVING/PARKING ON THE GRASS OR A PEDESTRIAN WALK - $25.00

RECKLESS DRIVING OR SPEEDING - $25.00

FAILURE TO AFFIX DECAL - $25.00

IMPROPER TRANSFER OF DECAL - $25.00

PARKING IN IMPROPER LOT - $25.00

OTHER IMPROPER PARKING VIOLATIONS - $25.00

*Compliance issues may also be addressed through the Student Conduct Code.*

Fines may be mailed with the violation notice to Campus Safety, or paid in person at Campus Safety at College Park Hall. Remember to bring the violation notice with you.

Violations may be appealed in writing within seven (7) days of the violation. Fines not paid or appealed within the seven (7) day period are considered delinquent and will be added to the account of the student or employee. Students with unpaid fines remaining on their accounts will not be permitted to graduate until the payment is made.

Appeal reviews are based on the following two rules to determine if an appeal should be accepted:

• Did a violation actually occur?
• Were there exigent circumstances surrounding the violation?

Violation history will be reviewed and applied as it pertains to the violation under appeal.

Appeals will be accepted only if the appellant meets the following conditions:

• The vehicle involved in the violation was registered on campus.
• The appeal must be received within seven (7) days of the date of the violation.
• The violation notice must be attached to the appeal form.
• The appeal must be submitted on the appropriate appeal form.
• The appeal form must be fully completed, legible, and signed.
• The appellant must be the owner/operator of the vehicle.
• Separate appeal forms must be filed for each violation.
• Completed appeal forms are to be submitted in person to the traffic clerk at the front desk at College Park Hall.
• TOWING AND MOTOR VEHICLE SEARCH FEES INCURRED TO DETERMINE THE OWNER AND/OR OPERATOR OF A VEHICLE MAY NOT BE APPEALED.

Appeal Procedures –

• The reviewers will adjudicate parking appeals. Appeals will be submitted without identifying the appellant. Only the circumstances surrounding the violation and prior driving record will be considered.
• Appeals that do not conform to the previously stated stipulations will not be submitted for consideration.
• Decisions by the reviewers are final and binding. If the appellant believes that there was a procedural error in the appeal process, that issue may be addressed, in writing, to the Director of Campus Safety for review.
• A copy of the adjudicated appeal will be returned to the appellant by campus mail, or by email.
• Every effort will be made to have appeals reviewed and returned within 30 days of receipt. A delay beyond that period is not a basis for appeal.

Thank you for your cooperation and efforts to ease the parking and traffic congestion on campus. If you have any questions regarding parking or vehicle registration please call the traffic desk between 7 AM and 7 PM.