Policies for Traffic Rules and Regulations for the Campus and Streets of Mississippi Valley State University
Policy | General Information | Registration & Permits | Parking | Traffic | Sanctions
Policy
The Mississippi Valley State University Police Department is charged with enforcing the traffic and parking rules and regulations promulgated and approved by the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning for the State of Mississippi.
Procedure
The following procedures regulate the use of vehicles on the campus and streets of Mississippi Valley State University:
1.1 All prior rules and regulations for the control, direction, parking, and general regulation of traffic and automobiles on the campus and streets of Mississippi Valley State University are hereby repealed.
1.2 For purposes of these regulations, the term:
(a) Vehicle includes any device in, upon, or by which any individual or property is, or may be, transported or drawn upon a highway, roadway, or street on the campus of Mississippi Valley State University;
(b) Motor Vehicle includes every motorized vehicle which is self-propelled, and every boat and trailer whether or not self-propelled;
(c) Motorcycle includes every motorized vehicle having a saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor;
(d) Bicycle includes every vehicle, other than a motor vehicle, designed to travel on not more than two wheels in contact with the ground and propelled by human power;
(e) University means Mississippi Valley State University;
(f) Campus means all buildings, streets, and grounds of Mississippi Valley State University, or any part thereof;
(g) Police Department means the Police Department at Mississippi Valley State University;
(h) Director of Police or Police Director means the Director of the Police Department at Mississippi Valley State University;
(i) Visitor means any individual, other than a faculty member, a staff member, a vendor, or a student, operating or parking a non-registered vehicle on the campus no more often than occasionally;
(j) Student means any individual registered as such, regardless of the number of credit hours, at Mississippi Valley State University; and
(k) Faculty or Staff means any individual who is eligible to receive staff benefits, any individual who works for a federal government agency with offices on campus, and any individual who is not a registered student and who works for a contracted campus business.
(l) MVSU Police Department means the office on campus responsible for maintaining and enforcing parking rules and regulations on the campus of Mississippi Valley State University.
(m) Permits as used herein include staff hang-tags/sticker permits displayed in accordance with 2.6.
1.3 The university shall have no liability for loss or damage to any vehicle or the contents of any vehicle brought, operated, or parked on the university campus.
1.4 The university does not guarantee parking space.
2.1 Any individual who operates or parks a motor vehicle or motorcycle on the campus and streets of Mississippi Valley State University shall register the vehicle at the beginning of each academic school year. Subsequent to the beginning of the academic school year, a vehicle must be registered within twenty-four hours (excluding weekends and holidays) after it is first brought on the university campus or streets, unless the individual has been issued a temporary or a special permit for the vehicle. The cost of a permit may be obtained by contacting the Office of Fiscal Affairs @ 662-254-3313.
2.2 Any individual required to register a vehicle, shall furnish any or all of the following information on forms provided by the university. :
(a) Name and current residence address;
(b) Office, residence hall, or the building in which the individual is located;
(c) Name and address of employer, if applicable;
(d) Name and address of the registered driver of the motor vehicle;
(e) Make and model of the motor vehicle at the time of the registration;
(f) State license tag number of the motor vehicle at the time of registration;
(g) Insurance information and
(g) Other information concerning the identity of the motor vehicle as may, from time to time, be required.
2.3 No individual, other than a departmental guest who should obtain a guest/visitor permit from the sponsoring Department, shall regularly or occasionally (defined as more than four days each semester) operate or park a motor vehicle upon the campus without securing an appropriate permit from the University Police Department.
2.4 The university shall prescribe the form of the permit.
2.5 No individual shall display more than one permit on any one vehicle. The exception to this statute is for a staff permit: staff permits shall override all other permits affixed to the vehicle, provided the vehicle is properly parked in a designated staff parking area.
2.6 The permit shall be permanently affixed to the vehicle in a place and manner prescribed by the university and/or in accordance with instructions printed on the permit. Permits which are taped on vehicles or affixed in locations other than the prescribed location shall not be considered permanently affixed or properly displayed. Staff hang permits must be properly displayed on the inside rear view mirror facing the front of the vehicle. Permits are the property of Mississippi Valley State University and must be surrendered to stop reoccurring charges when one’s relationship with the university or its agencies is severed.
2.7 Any regular employee of Mississippi Valley State University eligible for staff benefits at the university; any employee of any State or Federal agency located on the university campus; or any full-time, non-registered student or individual who is an employee of a contracted business located on the university campus may purchase a staff permit for any vehicle or motorcycle brought to campus.
(a) Staff permits are to be utilized solely for the use of regular employees, as described above, and may not be secured for the use of a student, friend, or relative.
(b) Staff permits shall not be displayed on a vehicle that is operated on campus on a regular or occasional basis by a student, friend, or relative.
(c) All regular employees of Mississippi Valley State University may purchase only one staff permit.
2.8 Any student who resides in a residence hall on the university campus shall obtain a properly designated permit for any vehicle or motorcycle brought to campus.
2.9 Any student who does not reside in a residence hall, may obtain a commuter permit for any vehicle or motorcycle brought to campus.
2.10 Visitors, who are not employees or students but are routinely on the campus more than four days each semester, must purchase a visitor permit at a fee established by the university. The permit must be permanently affixed to the left rear window or bumper.
2.13 All permits expire on an annual date determined by the university and stated on the permit.
2.14 Any individual to whom a permit has been issued shall:
(a) Remove any expired permit from the motor vehicle to which the expired permit is attached;
(b) Change permits if his/her status at the university changes in a manner as to require a different permit; and
(c) Remove any permit from the vehicle upon transfer of ownership or possession of the vehicle to which the permit is affixed.
2.15 If a permit issued to any individual under the provision of these regulations becomes marred, mutilated, or obliterated, or if because of damages to the vehicle the permit has to be replaced, or if the individual changes his/her status to a different classification during the year, the individual shall obtain a new permit. If the original permit or satisfactory evidence of its destruction is presented to MVSU Police Department, a fee not to exceed two dollars ($2.00) will be assessed.
2.16 A permit issued to be affixed to or used by one motor vehicle shall not be affixed or transferred to another vehicle.
2.17 A temporary permit may be obtained from MVSU Police Department by:
(a) Any individual who expects to operate or park any vehicle on the campus for more than twenty-four (24) hours, but less than seven (7) days, unless a longer period is authorized in writing; or
(b) Any individual who expects to operate or park any vehicle on the campus in the place of a registered vehicle that is temporarily inoperable.
2.18 Any individual to whom a permit has been issued shall be responsible for any parking or registration violations in which the vehicle is involved.
2.19 All faculty and staff members are expected to be aware of the state law regarding Mississippi license plates and to be in compliance.
3.1 Failure by any individual to find a legal parking space shall not be an excuse for violation of these regulations.
3.2 For purposes of these regulations, the university may classify individuals into different categories and may restrict parking in any area of its campus to a certain category of individuals. The university shall not, except upon posting or installation of appropriate signs or stenciled curb, change the restriction in any area from one category to another during the school year.
3.3 No individual, unless otherwise authorized by these regulations or MVSU Police Department, shall park any motor vehicle or motorcycle on the campus:
(a) In any area designated for Handicap Parking;
(b) In any manner that obstructs any wheelchair route or potential wheelchair route;
(c) On or adjacent to any yellow curb;
(d) On any sidewalk or in any manner that obstructs any sidewalk;
(e) On any lawn or grassed area, except as otherwise provided in these regulations;
(f) In any driveway;
(g) In any loading zone;
(h) In any "No Parking" zone;
(i) In any manner that obstructs traffic;
(j) In a double or multiple manner;
(k) In any manner that obstructs or blocks a fire hydrant;
(l) In any location not designated by lines or signs as parking areas;
(m) In any manner exceeding the posted length of time where "time" parking is in effect;
(n) In any area of the campus which has been closed off by the use of barricades, signs, yellow lines, or other traffic control devices except as otherwise authorized by these regulations or the Director of MVSU Police Department in writing;
(o) In any area of the campus which has not been designated as a parking area;
(p) In any fire lane;
(q) In any area designated by sign or stenciled curb as Service Parking;
(r) In any area designated by sign or stenciled curb as Reserved Parking, Example: The William Sutton Administration Building.
(s) In any area designated by sign or stenciled curb as Exclusive Service.
3.4 The privilege of a visitor/guest to park on the campus shall not be confined to those spaces specifically reserved for visitor/guest parking by signs, but shall extend to any legitimate parking space other than those spaces specifically reserved.
3.5 MVSU Police Department may, upon special occasions, temporarily appropriate for visitor/guest use exclusively any parking area normally reserved for other categories of individuals.
3.6 The university may reserve parking space for the exclusive use of any individual who has a severe physical disability.
Parking accommodations for mobility-impaired individuals are provided by Mississippi Valley State University. Permanently or temporarily mobility-impaired individuals should obtain a handicap parking permit authorized by the State of Mississippi through an application process which begins at the courthouse. Parking spaces are reserved throughout the campus to accommodate mobility-impaired individuals. The Office of MVSU Police Department will assist these individuals who need special parking accommodations on campus.
3.7 Residence hall students shall park their vehicles in areas designated as residence hall.
3.8 Commuter students shall park their vehicles in areas designated as commuter parking.
3.9 Staff shall park their vehicles in areas designated as staff parking.
3.10 No contractor shall operate or park any motor vehicle, or permit his/her employees to operate or park any motor vehicle, on the campus without first obtaining a special permit from Facilities Management.
3.11 Every individual, unless otherwise permitted or directed by appropriate authority, who parallel parks a motor vehicle upon the campus where there is an adjacent curb shall park with the right-hand wheels of the vehicle parallel to, and within twelve inches of, the right-hand curb.
3.12 If any parking space is marked off, any individual who parks a motor vehicle in a marked-off space shall park it completely within the marked areas.
3.13 The temporary absence of a sign at the entrance of any area of the campus does not mean that it is no longer restricted. If at any time area restrictions are removed or altered, the signs in those areas shall change appropriately.
3.14 No individual shall abandon any motor vehicle on the university campus. The university may, in addition to any other remedy herein provided, upon evidence that a motor vehicle has remained on campus parked and unused for a period of Three (3) days, will consider the vehicle abandon and will have it towed away according to the state Law.
3.15 Exclusive Service Parking as designated by sign or stenciled curb is reserved for those departments that require a service parking space to be available twenty-four (24) hours a day as approved by the university. The William Sutton Adminstration Building holds that exclusive parking designation.
3.16 Any vehicle registered with the university and properly displaying a university parking permit may park in areas designated "open parking."
4.1 No individual shall operate or park any motor vehicle or motorcycle on the campus in a manner as to cause injury to any individual, grounds, building, or other facility or property of the university.
4.2 Any individual who operates or parks a motor vehicle on the campus shall obey all stop signs, yellow or white lines for routing traffic, speed limit signs, parking signs, stenciled curbs, one-way street signs, traffic lights or signals, and any other sign, indicator, marker, or signal for the control, direction, parking, and general regulation for traffic and automobiles on the campus and streets of Mississippi Valley State University including, but not confined to, lawful hand, voice, whistle, or other commands or signals.
4.3 No individual shall drive or operate a motor vehicle on any campus parking lot at a speed in excess of ten (10) miles per hour.
4.4 No individual, unless otherwise authorized or directed by these regulations, shall drive or operate a motor vehicle on the campus at a speed in excess of thirty (30) mile per hour. The Director of Police shall identify these areas by appropriate signs or markers, and shall indicate that the speed limit is thirty (30) miles per hour.
4.5 No individual shall drive or operate a motor vehicle in any congested area of the campus at a speed in excess of twenty (20) miles per hour.
4.6 Mississippi Valley State University shall, consistent with these regulations, place and maintain signs, markers, and other traffic control devices upon its campus and streets as it shall deem necessary and sufficient to regulate, warn, or guide traffic.
4.7 No individual, other than those individuals who by nature of their functions are required to do so, shall drive a vehicle upon any pedestrian path, sidewalk, grassed area, safety zone, or any other area of the campus not ordinarily used for vehicular traffic with the exception of using sidewalk to access bike rack(s).
4.8 No individual, other than those individuals who by nature of their functions are required to do so, shall park any vehicle in or upon any area of campus that has been closed by the use of barricades or other traffic control devices.
4.9 No individual shall, except for the purpose of loading or unloading, operate or park any truck or other heavy vehicle not owned by the State of Mississippi upon the campus that is not a part of some State or County roadway or highway.
4.10 No individual shall operate any motor vehicle on the campus without due regard for the safety and property of others.
4.11 Pedestrians shall have the right of way at all marked crosswalks on the campus.
4.12 No individual shall operate on the campus any motor vehicle equipped with noise making muffler, cutout, or straight exhaust.
4.13 No individual shall blow the horn of his or her motor vehicle in an excessive manner.
4.14 Any individual who has an accident on the campus shall, if the accident resulted in property damage or personal injury, report the accident to the Police Department.
4.15 In addition to the rules and regulations contained herein, all of the laws of the State of Mississippi are in full force and effect at all times on the campus.
E. BICYCLES, MOTORCYCLES, OTHER MOTORIZED VEHICLES, SKATEBOARDS, AND IN-LINE SKATES
5.1 Any individual who rides, operates, or parks a bicycle or any other non-motorized vehicle, including boats and trailers, on the campus shall be subject to all the terms and provisions of these regulations applicable to anyone who rides, operates, or parks a motor vehicle, except for those provisions which by their nature can have no application.
5.2 Only campus police officers on official duty are allowed to ride any bicycle on any sidewalk, walkway, or other area of campus customarily used by pedestrians with the exception of using sidewalk to access bike rack.
5.3 No individual shall park any bicycle in a walkway, on a sidewalk, in a hallway, on a handicap ramp, or in or near a doorway except where use is made of a parking rack furnished by the university. Furthermore, bicycles affixed or chained to any tree, bench, trash can, railing or any other campus structure other than a bike rack will be subject to being impounded by the university.
5.4 No individual shall ride, operate, or park at night on the campus or streets of Mississippi Valley State University any bicycle not equipped with headlight and taillight or reflector.
5.5 No individual, unless otherwise authorized by the Director of Police in writing, shall take any bicycle inside any building on campus. An exception permits residents to store bicycles in their room of residence on campus.
5.6 Every regulation herein applicable to anyone riding, operating, or parking a bicycle on the campus shall also apply to anyone riding, operating, or parking a motorcycle, motor scooter, or other two-wheeled motorized vehicle.
5.7 No individual who operates or drives a motorcycle, or other motor-driven cycle having two or three wheels, shall carry any other individual in or upon the vehicle on the campus unless the vehicle is equipped with:
(a) A dual seat designed for two individuals, or a separate passenger seat with a double footrest; or
(b) A sidecar attachment providing a separate seat for a passenger to be seated entirely within the attachment.
5.8 No individual riding or operating a motorcycle or other motorized cycle on the campus or streets of Mississippi Valley State University shall carry in or upon the vehicle more than himself/herself and another individual at any one time.
5.9 The use of skateboards, bicycles, and in-line skates on campus is permitted, but caution should be exercised when in the presence of pedestrians as they have the right of way. Furthermore, use of bicycles, skateboards, and in-line skates inside of campus buildings or on campus structures such as, but not limited to, stairs, railings, benches, planters, concrete pavers and other applicable structures is not permitted. Those found to have damaged any campus structure face campus disciplinary sanctions and/or criminal prosecution for vandalism and destruction of state property.
7.1 When a violation by any individual of any rule or regulation set forth in Sections A through E has been clearly established by waiver, voluntary admission, or by hearing as provided in Section F the individual shall be subjected to an administrative penalty including but not limited to a fee in an amount to be established by the university. A current list of fees can be obtained at www.parkingservices.msstate.edu.
7.2 Any individual who is required to surrender his/her decal or registered permit and fails to do so, or who operates or parks any motor vehicle on the campus of Mississippi Valley State University after the date upon which he/she was requested to surrender his/her permit or registration permit, shall have the vehicle impounded. The individual shall be responsible for the cost involved in removing, impounding, and storing the vehicle. The university and its officers shall not be liable for any damage to the vehicle occurring during, or resulting from, the placement or removal of a wheel lock, the impoundment, removal, or storage thereof.
7.3 The university may, in addition to any other remedy herein provided, remove and impound any illegally parked or abandoned vehicle, or any vehicle found on the campus without a permit, with no license plates, or parked in a manner as to constitute a serious hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic, or to the movement or the operation of emergency equipment. The owner of the vehicle shall be responsible for all costs involved in removing, impounding, and storing of the vehicle. The university and its officers shall not be liable for any damage to the vehicle occurring during, or resulting from, the impoundment, removal, or storage thereof.
7.4 Any individual who fails to surrender his/her permit or registration permit, or who fails to make payment of administrative penalties for violation of the rules and regulations for control, direction, and general regulation of traffic and automobiles on the Mississippi Valley State University campus shall be subject to university disciplinary action.
7.5 Any individual who fails to surrender his/her registered permit on the date upon which he/she is requested to do so, or any individual who fails to obtain a proper decal or permit and who operates or parks any vehicle on the campus of Mississippi Valley State University after the date upon which he/she is required to obtain a permit or registration permit, shall be in violation of the rules and regulations of traffic and automobiles on the campus and streets of Mississippi Valley State University.
7.6 Any individual who knowingly provides any false information where such information is required by the terms of these rules and regulations shall upon notice and hearing be required to surrender his/her decal or permit and shall have all of his/her operating and parking privileges suspended for not longer than one full year.
7.7 Any student who fails to pay his/her parking fines to the university before the end of the semester will not be permitted to re-register as a student of the university or secure a transcript or credits.
7.8 Any regular employee (faculty or staff) who fails to pay his/her financial obligation to the university will have the amount deducted from their paycheck.
7.9 Unpaid parking penalties are cumulative until paid.
7.10 The university may, in addition to any other remedy herein provided, enforce the parking rules and regulations through the use of a wheel lock device or towing at owner’s expense. This device will render the vehicle immobile. The owner of the vehicle will be responsible for all costs and unpaid traffic fines involved. Wheel lock removal fees are established by MVSU Police Department and a fee list may be obtained by calling 662-325-2661.
(a) Vehicles parked in or obstructing use of a handicap space, ramp, or curb cut without proper permit documentation may be wheel locked or towed at owner’s expense.
(b) Vehicles parked in any Reserved spaced may be wheel locked.
(c) Vehicles parked in any wheel lock zone or tow away zone may be wheel locked.
(d) Vehicles parked in gated lots unauthorized or without proper permit may be wheel locked or towed at owner’s expense.
(e) Vehicles operating on a permit reported lost or stolen may be wheel locked.
(f) Vehicles with unidentifiable owner/operator used for extended period of time without securing proper permit may be wheel locked.
7.11 Vehicles that are unregistered or have unpaid citations may be wheel-locked and/or towed at the owner's/operator's expense.
7.12 Unauthorized vehicles in exclusive service parking, service parking, or Handicap Parking will be wheel-locked and/or towed at the owner's/operator's expense.
7:13 Any individual found displaying a permit other than his/her own will have his/her vehicle wheel locked. Fees and disciplinary actions are as follows:
(a) Wheel lock removal fees are in effect.
(b) Students will be referred the Dean of Students’ office.
(c) Employees will be referred to their immediate supervisor.
7.14 Any individual who removes a wheel lock without authorization is subject to the following fees and actions:
(a) Arrest and restitution.
(b) Students will be referred to the Dean of Students’ office and employees will be referred to their immediate supervisor.
7.15 In addition to the above stated sanctions, loss of campus driving privileges may also be imposed.