Frequently Asked Questions
 

1. I need a permit for my parents/friends who are visiting this weekend. What do I do?

2. Are tickets written between semesters, summer semesters, holidays, weekends and nights?

3. Can I appeal a citation I don't think I should have received?

4. What are some ways to keep from getting parking citations?

5. If I turn on my hazard lights, will I still receive a parking ticket?

6. If I leave a note of my vehicle explaining why I am parking in a particular location, will I still receive a parking ticket?

7. What happens if I just park there for a minute, or a friend or teacher told me to park there?

8. Do I still need to display a parking permit if I have a handicap permit or plates?

9. What are the hours for the Monroe Park Campus parking decks for daily parkers?

10. I got a ticket I don't think I deserve. Why can't I just ignore it?

11. How do I pay my parking fines?

12. Where is the Parking office located and when are you open?

13. What can I do if I forget my parking permit?

14. What do I do if my car breaks down in one of the VCU decks or lots?

15. Who can I call if I have a complaint or comment about parking or the transit system service?

16. What do I do if my permit is lost or stolen?

17. Is my permit transferable to another vehicle?

18. Is there any other way to get around campus besides my vehicle?

19. What is the daily parking rate?

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1. I need a permit for my parents/friends who are visiting this weekend. What do I do?
Overnight guests should purchase passes from Customer Service. The rate is $10 per night.

2. Are tickets written between semesters, summer semesters, holidays, weekends and nights?
Yes. Citations are written throughout the entire year, 24 hours per day, 365 days per year whether school is in session or not.

3. Can I appeal a citation I don't think I should have received?
Yes. Students, Faculty, and Staff can appeal in written form to the PTS Appeals Officer. A ticket must be appealed or paid within 15 days of issuance. Citations can also be appealed online. Click HERE for the on-line appeal form.

4.What are some ways to keep from getting parking citations?
* Always have your permit properly displayed.
* Always park completely between the white lines and don't block drive lanes.
* Obey timed parking zones like loading zones and meters.
* Finally, when in doubt, refer to the Parking & Transportation web pages for maps, policies, and locations, or call Parking & Transportation Services at 828-PARK.

5. If I turn on my hazard lights, will I still receive a parking ticket?
Yes. An inappropriately parked vehicle will receive a ticket with or without flashers.

6. If I leave a note of my vehicle explaining why I am parking in a particular location, will I still receive a parking ticket?
Yes. An inappropriately parked vehicle will receive a ticket with or without a note. Parking enforcement and police officers do not recognize notes as valid parking permits.

7. What happens if I just park there for a minute, or a friend or teacher told me to park there?
If you are in doubt, contact Parking & Transportation Services at 828-PARK for the answer. A professor or friend may intend to be helpful, but will not be responsible for your citation. If you even stay for a minute or two, your vehicle is still as illegally parked as if it had been there all day.

8. Do I still need to display a parking permit if I have a handicap permit or plates?
Yes. All vehicles parked in VCU lots or decks must have a valid parking permit.

9. What are the hours for the Monroe Park Campus and MCV parking decks for daily parkers?
West Broad Street Deck, West Cary Street Deck, Jefferson Street Deck, West Main Street Deck and Bowe Street Deck are open Monday through Thursday, 7am – 10pm, and Fridays, 7am - 5pm. The Eighth Street Deck on the MCV Campus is open Monday through Thursday, 7am - 10pm, and Fridays, 7am - 5pm. Decks on both campuses are closed on the weekends. Vehicles parked after hours without verification of parking, i.e., dated register receipt or pass displayed, will be assessed the after hours fee of $5.00 (this fee is reduced to $3.50 when presentation for payment is made if the recipient is a student or faculty/staff and a valid VCU ID). After 2am the vehicle is issued another citation.

10. I got a ticket I don't think I deserve. Why can't I just ignore it?
If you got a ticket, you shouldn't ignore it. If the officer made a mistake, we need to correct it. If they didn't and the mistake is yours then don't set yourself to get more tickets before the matter is straightened out. If you disagree with a ticket, appeal it within fifteen (15) calendar days. While it is fresh in your memory, present all of the facts in your appeal. Simply saying you didn't do anything wrong or that the officer made a mistake is not sufficient. You should give the Appeal's Officer as much information as possible on which to base a decision. Additionally, if you continue to ignore the letters about your fines, the parking office does send all delinquent bills to a collections agency.
Invalid appeal reasons
Here are some of the most common defenses used in appealing tickets, all of which are normally rejected by the appeals officer:
1. "I admit I was illegally parked, but I was only gone a few minutes."
2. "I knew it was a no-parking zone, but cars park there all the time and never get ticketed."
3. "I just forgot to put my permit up."
4. "I didn't know I couldn't park there."
5. "My permit was on the floor/seat/dashboard and the enforcement officer should have seen it."

11. How do I pay my parking fines?
There are four ways to pay: online, in person, phone or mail. For online payments go to https://www.bsv.vcu.edu/vcupark/WEBAPPEALS/citations.asp and pay your parking fines with your credit card or check card. If you prefer mail, mail your payment to: VCU Parking and Transportation, 1008 East Clay Street, P.O. Box 980517, Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0517. Please include your citation number on the check, or you can pay in person at any of the parking offices. We also accept credit card payments via phone.

12. Where is the Parking office located and when are you open?
There are two parking offices:

Customer Service Office: Monroe Park Campus	Customer Service Office: MCV Campus
Ackell Residence Center	8th Street Parking Deck
1108 A W. Broad Street	659 N. 8th Street, First Level
8:00AM-4:30PM Monday-Friday	7:00AM-6:30PM Monday-Friday
(804)828-8726	(804)828-0501

13. What can I do if I forget my parking permit?
Sometimes all of us forget to do something and if you forget your parking permit, call the Parking Office at either VCU-PARK or 828-0501 to report it. However, any tickets you receive before you call in are valid and will be enforced so call as soon as you remember!

14. What do I do if my car breaks down in one of the VCU decks or lots?
Parking and Transportation Services offers motorist assistance to its subscribers. This assistance is limited to jumpstarts, assistance with changing tires, transportation for gasoline and calling a towing service. Due to liability issues, parking staff will not attempt to open locked vehicles. Call VCU-PARK for assistance.

15. Who can I call if I have a complaint or comment about parking or the transit system service?
Contact the Parking and Transportation Ombudsman, Miriam Maddux, at 828-2421 or email her at madduxmf@vcu.edu.

16. What do I do if my permit is lost or stolen?
You must immediately complete a lost/stolen permit report and obtain a replacement permit. Cost for replacement is $25.00. If a lost or stolen permit is found on a vehicle, the car will be immobilized (booted)/towed and the violator will be charged. If the permit has been stolen, you can bring a police report to avoid paying the $25 replacement fee.

17. Is my permit transferable to another vehicle?
You may use your hangtag for another vehicle that you drive. Permits are not transferable from person to person.

18. Is there any other way to get around campus besides my vehicle?
Parking & Transportation Services provides a campus transit system service to the campus community. To check out routes and times, visit the transit system web page or obtain a VCU Transit Ride Guide at the PTS Office. All rides are free with a valid VCU ID.

19. What is the daily parking rate?
The daily parking rate is $3.50 for faculty, staff, and students. The daily rate for visitors and contractors is $5.00.


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Date Last Reviewed: August 27, 2009