Section V: Parking Regulations

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1. General: Each parking lot or garage shall be defined by appropriate signs and/or painted lines (when the parking area is paved). All spaces are designated, but not every space has a sign. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to park in the authorized area. Most lots are authorized for multiple types of permits. The various classes of parking permits and their eligibility requirements, privileges, and limitations are described in detail in this regulation.
   1. The absence of sufficient authorized parking spaces on the university campus during a particular period of time will not be considered as valid justification for violation of this regulation. The mere fact that citations are not issued for any offense does not indicate that these regulations have been modified to exclude the offense.
   2. These Parking and Traffic Regulations are in effect at all times on campus. All posted restrictions apply whether or not classes are in session, unless otherwise announced. On official University holidays, only those parking restrictions that regulate parking “At All Times” shall remain in effect.
2. Police Regulations: Vehicle operation and parking may be prohibited under emergency and/or other law enforcement operational necessities. It shall be prohibited for any person to violate police instructions related to this section. In such circumstances, a citation will be issued for violators.
3. Parking Permits: The Parking Manager may issue permits to park in lots and areas described in this regulation to employees or students of the University and affiliated organizations operating on the campus upon payment of the appropriate fee. Permits shall be allocated among the faculty, staff, students, and visitors of the University in a manner  that will best serve the needs of the University community as a whole. Vehicles must properly display an authorized and current University permit to park on the campus. A University parking permit is required to park on the UNT Health Science Center campus from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and handicapped spaces require a permit at all times.
4. Parking Facilities: Any person parking a motor vehicle in one of the parking garages, lots, spaces, or areas must display the appropriate permit for that parking facility. Any vehicle parked without displaying a valid permit is subject to the issuance of a citation, booting, and/or towing. Parking facilities shall be enforced during those hours as specified in this regulation. Weekdays and on the weekends except as noted in this regulation (i.e., during special events). The Chief of Police may provide for subdivision of and for addition or deletion of parking facilities and may change traffic flow patterns as deemed necessary or advisable for the administration or enforcement of this regulation. On occasion, the Chief of Police and/or the President of the UNT Health Science Center may close certain parking facilities for University-sponsored events.
   1. Controlled Access Parking Facilities: The Chief of Police may cause to be erected at the entrance and exit of each controlled-access lot, garage, or defined area, a gate that can be opened and closed either by an attendant or by use of a UNT Health Science Center badge issued by the Police Department.
      1. It is prohibited for vehicles to enter or park in controlled-access lots during the posted hours without paying the appropriate fee or displaying a valid permit for that parking facility. If the gate is left open during the hours of parking, then an unauthorized vehicle may legally drive through and park in that gated lot.
      2. It is prohibited for any person to deface, damage, tamper with, willfully break, destroy, or impair the usefulness of, or open without lawful authority an entry or exit gate or any other related equipment.
      3. Improper exits or misuse of badges granting access to parking facilities in an attempt to avoid payment of daily fees may result in various penalties. Permit holders may also have their parking cancelled without refund, and any person found to be improperly using these facilities might also be referred to UNTHSCPD and/or University administration.
      4. No open flames, such as portable grills, are allowed in any of the University parking garages.
   2. Metered Parking Spaces: The Chief of Police may designate metered parking spaces within any parking lot or area on the campus for general use. The Chief of Police may also specify the length of time for parking in each space. It is prohibited for any person to park a vehicle in metered spaces without activation and/or for longer than the indicated length of time. Parking meters are in use for the times indicated on the meter head.
      1. Parking meters shall be marked so that they can be activated by insertion of lawful coins of the United States.
      2. Vehicles parked in metered spaces without the meter being activated with lawful coins shall be subject to the issuance of a citation while the vehicle occupies the space with an expired meter.
      3. It is prohibited for any person to damage, tamper with, willfully break, destroy, or impair the usefulness of, or open without lawful authority any parking meter installed pursuant to this regulation. It is prohibited for any person to insert into a parking meter any object that is not a coin of the United States.
      4. Whenever a meter is discovered to be inoperative, this information must immediately be reported to the Parking Office by calling the UNTHSCPD Dispatch at (817) 735-2210. Unless such a report is made, the vehicle(s) parked at such a meter shall be subject to citation. Note: See Persons with Disabilities/Veterans Parking regarding the payment of fees at parking meters.
5. Manner of Parking:
   1. Vehicles are prohibited from occupying portions of more than one space when the space is defined by painted lines or to park in any portion of the area not clearly designated for parking. Parking wholly within the marked boundaries of the parking space is required at all times. All parking spaces marked with boundaries at the rear of the space are designed for vehicles that can park wholly in that space without extending beyond the marked boundary. Those vehicles parked beyond the boundary will be considered not parked completely in the space and subject to citation.
   2. Four-wheeled vehicles are prohibited from parking facing opposite the flow of traffic when exiting a parking space on a street or in a parking garage.
   3. Vehicles are prohibited from double parking.
   4. Vehicles shall not park in a manner that obstructs parking spaces designated for persons with disabilities, walkways, driveways, ramps, loading docks, or marked crosswalks and/or that inflicts damage to shrubbery, trees, grass, grounds, or structures.
   5. If there are no painted lines, the vehicle shall park perpendicular to the wheel stop or parallel to the curb.
   6. It is prohibited for any person to park or bring to a halt on campus any vehicle in such a manner as to interfere with normal vehicular or pedestrian traffic.
   7. Other improperly parked vehicles do not constitute an excuse for improper parking.
6. Parking on Sidewalks, Grass, or Shrubbery: It is prohibited for any person to park a vehicle (including bicycles, moped, motor scooters, etc.) on a sidewalk, walkway, patio, plaza, grass, shrubbery, or any unmarked or unimproved ground area unless such areas are signed and marked for parking.
7. Fire Lanes/Fire Hydrants: Fire lanes are designated by posted signs and/or yellow or red painted curbs/lines. No person shall park a vehicle (whether disabled or not), or permit it to stand in or block access to any area designated as a fire lane or within 15 feet in either direction of a fire hydrant. Any emergency authorization for use of fire lanes must be obtained through UNTHSCPD.
8. Posted Signs: Posted signs must be honored at all times. In any parking dispute, the existing sign will prevail in determining if a car is legally parked.
9. Unpainted Curbs: Parking at unpainted curbs is controlled by area parking signs.
10. Painted Curbs: Vehicles are prohibited from parking where indicated by red or yellow-painted curbs, the words “No Parking,” or yellow-painted pavement markings at all times.
11. Barricaded Spaces: It is unlawful to park in a space with a barricade or to remove a barricade.
12. Loading Zones: Vehicle operators may park in a Loading Zone for 30 minutes to load/unload a vehicle; however, the operator must have the vehicle’s emergency lights flashing. There are no permits required for Loading Zone spaces. Loading Zone spaces are in effect “At All Times”. Once the loading/unloading process has been completed, the spaces must be vacated and those not obviously in the process of loading or unloading will be cited. Moving a vehicle and re-parking a vehicle in the same area does not extend the original time restriction from the initial parking. University vehicles and commercially marked vehicles may park in a Loading Zone space without flashers on for up to two hours. Any vehicle occupying a Loading Zone space in excess of the two hour time limit will be cited.
13. University Vehicle Spaces: These spaces are reserved for use by university vehicles at all times. Some spaces may be reserved for a specific numbered University vehicle at all times.
14. Special Access Parking: Parking in Lot 1 is restricted to the Health Pavilion patients only. Parking in Lot 3 is restricted to University Facilities vehicles only. Parking Lot 7 has spaces designated for customers of Piola’s Restaurant; University permit holders are prohibited from parking in this area at all times. Parking in Lot 10 is HSC permit parking and Lena Pope parking only(labeled spaces). Parking in Lot 12 is restricted to St. Emilion only. Parking in Lot 13 is restricted to the Professional Building and St. Emilion only. Parking in Garage 5 lower level from Darcy St. is restricted to visitor parking and ITR parking. University permits are not valid in these areas.
15. Special Event Parking: The Chief of Police may cause certain lots, spaces, areas, or garages to be reserved for those attending a special event or specifically authorized persons. Parking alternatives are available for displaced permit holders, based on permit type.
    1. Any event which impacts parking on the University campus must be coordinated with the Parking Office.
    2. The Parking Office may issue special permits for events to the host department.
    3. Prices for event parking will vary depending on the type and location of the event.
    4. The Chief of Police is authorized to remove and/or have cited vehicles parked in reserved spaces before University-sponsored events. On the day of an event, a list of all vehicles removed and/or relocated will be available at the Police Department.
    5. The Manager of Parking Services may take one or more of the following steps to inform permit holders of special event parking policies:
       1. Information e-mailed to all permit holders with assigned lots or garages affected by special event parking
       2. Informational signs posted at the entrances to lots reserved for special events
       3. Information posted on the Parking Office website
    6. Parking arrangements for chartered buses and large vehicles that will impact traffic must be coordinated with the Parking Office.
16. Temporary Prohibition of Parking: The Chief of Police is authorized to temporarily prohibit parking, stopping, or standing on driveways, streets, alleys, and parking lots on campus; and, by agreement with the City of Fort Worth, on public streets. Temporary signs and/or barriers shall be posted. A representative of the Parking Office or other University official shall give notice of regulations issued under this section. It is prohibited for any person to violate such regulations.
17. Long-Term Parking: Parking in surface lots for more than 72 hours must be coordinated through the Parking Office to help avoid vehicles being left in areas affected by parking disruptions. All permit holders should inspect their vehicle and parking every 72 hours for safety reasons and for assurance that event parking restrictions have not been placed on the lot at which the vehicle is parked.
18. Inclement Weather Parking: If the assigned permit parking facility is inaccessible due to adverse weather conditions (i.e., ice), vehicles are to be parked in another University parking facility. The Chief of Police, and/or their designee shall define lot inaccessibility.
19. Parking for Persons with Disabilities: A sufficient number of parking spaces shall be reserved in surface lots and garages to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
    1. Parking spaces marked for persons with disabilities are reserved at all times unless otherwise indicated. A university parking permit is required to park in all designated spaces. An appropriate plate and/or placard for persons with disabilities is ALSO required in both surface spaces and garage spaces for persons with disabilities.
    2. Disability license plates, veteran license plates, permits, or placards issued by the State of Texas, as well as disability plates, permits, and placards issued by other states shall be considered an appropriate persons with disabilities plate and/or permit.
    3. It is prohibited to park a vehicle in a manner denying access to persons with disabilities parking spaces.
    4. Persons with disabilities whose vehicles display the appropriate disability license plates, permits, or placards issued by the State of Texas, and disability plates, permits, and placards issued by other states are exempt from the payment of fees at parking meters.
20. Veteran Parking
    1. All Veterans with Disabilities, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients, Former Prisoners of War, Pearl Harbor Survivors, and Purple Heart Recipients, whose vehicles display the special license plates issued by the Texas Department of Transportation, are exempt from the payment of fees at parking meters on campus and are further exempt from the payment of fees for a general surface University parking permit. This subsection does not entitle a person to park a vehicle described by Subsection (a) in a parking space or area that has not been designated specifically for persons with physical disabilities on the property of the institution if the vehicle has not been granted or assigned a parking permit required by the institution.
    2. All Veterans who have been awarded a Silver or Bronze Star, whose vehicle displays license plates issued by the Texas Department of Transportation, are exempt from the payment of fees at parking meters on campus. The recipient or their surviving spouse of the specialty license plate must be an occupant in the vehicle.
21. Visitor Parking: The University of North Texas Health Science Center welcomes visitors to the campus. Visitors will be required to display a valid permit to park on campus. Responsibility for payment of fees will be with the visitor. Departments hosting large groups of visitors must notify the Parking Office at least two weeks in advance of the event in order to make proper arrangements.
22. Emergency Vehicle Parking: Emergency vehicles are exempt from the provisions of this regulation when being operated in response to an emergency situation.
23. University Vehicle Parking: University vehicles may park in any regular non-gated space EXCEPT metered spaces and all spaces designated for parking for persons with disabilities.
24. Trailers, Recreational Vehicle, or Mobile Home Vehicle Parking: Trailers, recreational vehicles, or mobile home vehicles are prohibited from parking on campus unless coordinated and approved by the Parking Office.
25. Motorcycle/Moped/Motor Scooter Parking: Motorcycle, moped, and motor scooter operators are required to purchase and display a University permit to park on campus.
    1. Motorcycle parking areas are restricted to designated Motorcycle parking spaces.
    2. Persons with disabilities on motorcycles or mopeds may park in parking spaces designated for persons with disabilities. The appropriate placard or plate must be displayed.
26. Bicycle and Low-Powered Electrical Bicycle Parking: Bicycles shall be parked in accordance with this regulation, and state and local fire/safety regulations. Failure to follow bicycle regulations may result in warning notification, impoundment, and/or citation.
    1. Bicycle parking is available throughout campus and is designated by the presence of bicycle racks. Bicycles shall ONLY be parked or stored at designated bicycle parking areas at all times.
    2. Bicycles parked or otherwise secured in unauthorized places in violation of this regulation are subject to citation and/or impoundment. It is lawful for the university to remove locking devices in order to impound a bicycle. The university is not responsible for damage done to security devices or the bicycle during the removal of locks or impoundment.
    3. Bicycles that are parked for more than 30 days at University facilities may be removed. The Parking Office will attach notification of the University’s intent to remove bicycles for non-use.
    4. The Chief of Police may impound at the owner/rider’s expense, any bicycle that is considered abandoned, lost/stolen, parked/stored, or operated in violation of this regulation or state or local fire safety regulations. Unlocked bicycles will be considered abandoned and can be impounded.
27. Disabled Vehicles: It is prohibited to leave a disabled vehicle parked in violation of these regulations without immediately notifying UNTHSCPD Dispatch at (817) 735-2210. If the vehicle is obstructing traffic or creating a hazard, it must be removed immediately. A police officer or PSO will either render assistance or authorize temporary parking. Temporary parking of disabled vehicles shall not exceed 24 hours and must not create any obstruction or hazard.
28. Abandoned Vehicles: Any vehicle that is partially dismantled or wrecked, does not display a current license plate or permit, and does not appear to be operable; and is left in such condition for more than 48 hours, shall be considered abandoned and impounded at owner’s expense. The 48-hour stipulation does not apply to unlocked bicycles. Notice of pending impoundment shall be posted prominently on the vehicle on the driver’s side of the front window, on the rear windshield, on the driver’s side window, or on the bicycle frame depending on the type of vehicle.
29. Inhabitation of Vehicles: No one may inhabit a vehicle of any kind (cars, trailers, campers, motor homes, trucks, buses, or other vehicles) on the University campus (streets, parking lots, garages, and other areas) except as approved by the Chief of Police. Violators may be cited and the vehicles may be towed.