Transportation and Parking Services
Parking

Citation Appeal

  • Our intent is that questions regarding parking citations will be answered via the information below. All citation appeals need to be submitted (see link below) within 5 days of the violation if the appeal is to be considered.

    Parking Citation Appeal Form

    Filing an appeal does not guarantee that it will be granted, however appealing persons will receive an email confirmation that the appeal is in process within 2 weeks of submitting the appeal. As a reminder, all Seattle University parking facilities are enforced 24/7, and appropriate parking permits are required at all times.

    Parking Fines Listing

    A. The fines or penalties which may be assessed for violations of these regulations are those detailed below:

    1. Failure to Transfer a Valid Permit to a second registered vehicle $5.00
    2. Improper Display of Permit $5.00
    3. Obstructing Traffic $30.00
    4. Occupying More Than One Space $12.00
    5. Parking in a Restricted Space $20.00
    6. Parking in a Prohibited Area $25.00
    7. Parking out of Assigned Area $10.00
    8. Parking Over Permitted Time Limit $20.00
    9. Parking With No Valid Permit Displayed $25.00
    10. Parking Outside Cycle Area (Motorcycle or Bicycle) $5.00
    11. Parking While Privilege Suspended $50.00
    12. Parking in Space Designated for Disabled $100.00
    13. Use of Forged or Stolen Permit $200.00
    14. Unauthorized use of the Carpool Permit or Parking Lot: Arriving without partner more often than allowed by regulation, and/ or more than one vehicle of a carpool parked on campus at a time without a single occupancy vehicle (SOV) permit. 1st Violation, $15.00, 2nd Violation, $25.00, 3rd Violation, Loss of Privileges.
    15. Impound violation fee & cost of impound

    B. Additions or other changes to this list will be published as needed and will be available in the Public Safety Office.

    Violation Summaries

    A. The following descriptions provide brief summaries of specific violations regulations.

    1. Failure to Transfer a Valid Permit to a second registered vehicle is when a permit holder does not transfer the removable permit to the vehicle that they park on campus. This violation is most frequently assessed as an appeal of a parking with no valid permit displayed violation.
    2. Improper Display of Permit is when the permit is not displayed on the lower portion of the drivers side windshield or completely visible on the drivers side dash board of the vehicle.
    3. Obstructing Traffic is when a vehicle is parked in such a manner as to likely impede pedestrian or vehicle traffic through customary or designated aisle ways, streets, malls, or drive ways. Two frequent examples of this offense are when a vehicle is parked at the end of a row in a space not designated for parking and may interfere with vehicle's turning into or out of the row or may interfere with the visibility of a vehicle turning into or out of a row. A second example is when a large vehicle attempts to park in a compact vehicle stall and the vehicle protrudes into the traffic way in such a manner as to impede a driver's visibility or a vehicle's free and easy passage through the traffic way.
    4. Occupying More Than One Space is when a vehicle is not parked between the lines delineating a parking space and protrudes into an adjacent space.
    5. Parking in a Restricted Space is when a vehicle is parked in a space that is restricted to specific type of permit such as a University vehicle, reserved space, or Jesuit vehicle.
    6. Parking in a Prohibited Area is when a vehicle is parked in a place where parking is not permitted such as on a campus mall without a valid mall permit, within 10 feet of a fire hydrant, blocking a crosswalk, on a planted area, in a space or area that is posted as no parking, in a passenger load/ unload area, at a campus mall entrance, in a passenger load/ unload only zone and/ or any other area not specifically designated for parking.
    7. Parking out of Assigned Area is when a vehicle is parked in an area not assigned for that permit. Examples are student permit in a visitor space, a non-resident permit parked after midnight, an evening permit parked before 3:00 PM, or a non-carpool permit parked in a carpool lot or space.
    8. Parking Over Permitted Time Limit is when a vehicle is parked longer than is allowed by either the permit the vehicle is issued or the space where the vehicle is parked. Examples are vehicles with a permit to park 15 minutes who park longer than 15 minutes; a second example is a space designated as a 10 minute loading zone and a vehicle is parked longer than 10 minutes.
    9. Parking With No Valid Permit Displayed is when a vehicle is parked without a valid permit displayed on the vehicle. This includes vehicles with no permit and expired permits parked anywhere on Seattle University or university parking areas.
    10. Parking Outside Cycle Area (Motorcycle or Bicycle) is when a motorcycle or bicycle is parked outside those areas specifically designated for motorcycle or bicycle parking. This includes cycles parked in a vehicle parking space.
    11. Parking While Privilege Suspended is when a vehicle registered to or operated by any person whose parking privilege has been suspended, is parked anywhere on Seattle University or in any University parking area.
    12. Parking in Space Designated for Disabled is when a vehicle is parked in a space designated for disabled persons, without a valid Washington State or Seattle University disabled parking permit. Vehicles with valid Washington State Permits but no university permit will be cited for parking with no valid permit displayed.
    13. Use of Forged or Stolen Permit is when a vehicle is parked or stopped on Seattle University or in a university parking area and has a stolen or forged permit visible in or on the vehicle. A stolen permit is one that has been removed from another vehicle, or acquired in any manner other than properly rendering payment to the University for the permit. A forged permit is one that has been altered to appear valid including changing the date, time, or any other information; and/ or reproducing a permit to make it look as if it was valid.
    14. Unauthorized use of the Carpool Permit or Parking Lot is arriving without a carpool partner more often than allowed by regulation, and/ or more than one vehicle of a carpool parked on campus at a time without a single occupancy vehicle permit. It includes all violations of the carpool regulations or agreement.

    B. The Director of the Public Safety and Transportation may provide clarification on specific violations to meet the objectives of these regulations.

    Enforcement of Parking Regulations

    PROCEDURE---CITATION AND SERVICE THEREOF

    Upon probable cause to believe that a violation of these regulations has occurred, an appropriate summons or parking/traffic violation notice may be issued by the Public Safety Department setting forth the date, the approximate time, the locality, and the nature of the violation. Such citation may be served by delivering or mailing a copy thereof to the alleged violator, by attaching or affixing a copy thereof to the vehicle or bicycle allegedly involved in such violation or by placing a copy thereof in some prominent place within such vehicle. Service by mail shall be accomplished by placing a copy of the citation in the mail addressed to the alleged violator at the address shown on the records of the Office of the Registrar, the Human Resources Office or Academic Personnel Records for that person, or any other last known address of that person.

    II. REGISTERED OWNER RESPONSIBLE FOR ILLEGAL PARKING

    Every person in whose name a vehicle is registered (licensed) shall be responsible for any parking violations of said vehicle and for all offenses other than moving violations under these regulations. It shall be no defense that said vehicle was illegally parked or used by another, unless it be shown that at such time said vehicle was being used without the consent of the registered (licensed) owner thereof: Provided, that the lessee of a commercially rented or leased vehicle alone shall be responsible for any parking of such vehicle and for all violations of these regulations committed while the vehicle is being leased or rented, if the registered (licensed) owner of such vehicle furnished the Public Safety Department with a copy of the renting or leasing contract stating the name and address of the renter or lessee.

    III. ELECTION TO FORFEIT OR CONTEST

    • A. The parking violation notice issued pursuant to these regulations shall advise the alleged violator that he or she may elect either to pay and forfeit the fine applicable to the violations charged or to contest the matters through the Public Safety Department by writing an appeal.
    • B. If the alleged violator chooses to forfeit the fines he or she may do so by mail, forwarding the appropriate amount by check or money order or by bringing such amount in cash to the Department of Public Safety. Such forfeiture shall constitute a waiver of the right to contest.
    • C. If the alleged violator chooses to contest, he or she may do so by contacting the Parking Office in writing within 5 days of receiving the citation.
    • D. If an alleged violator has received one or more parking violation notice(s) and has neither paid the fines nor sent a written contest, the Parking Office may suspend parking privileges. Suspended parking privileges may result in immediate impoundment if the vehicle is found parked on campus.

    IV. MITIGATION AND SUSPENSION OF PENALTIES

    Upon showing of good cause or mitigating circumstances, the Director of Public Safety or his/her designee may impose a lesser fine than those established in these regulations, or may suspend the fine.

    V. ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS BY THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT

    • A. Any parking fine which, without lawful excuse, is unpaid for a period of time in excess of the time specified for payment, will constitute a delinquent and unpaid debt due and owing Seattle University in full and may be processed for collection in accordance with applicable statutes and University procedures.
    • B. If a parking permit holder refuses or fails without lawful excuse to comply with a final judgment of the Public Safety Department, the Director of Public Safety may notify the individual concerned that his or her failure to comply constitutes grounds for recall of his or her parking permit as provided for in these regulations, and/or may subject his or her vehicle to impoundment as provided for in these regulations. If there is no response to this notice, a parking permit holder's parking privileges shall be revoked by the Director of Public Safety, and the vehicle may be subject to impoundment if found parked on University property.
    • C. In the cases where parking privileges are revoked, refunds for the remaining portion of a paid parking permit will be issued after all unpaid fines have been deducted.

    VI. PARKING VIOLATIONS---REPEAT OFFENDERS

    Any vehicle with one or more outstanding parking violations is subject to impound upon any subsequent parking violations.

    Impoundment of Vehicles

    IMPOUNDMENT OF VEHICLES

    Any vehicle parked upon Seattle University property may be subject to impoundment for cause as specified under these regulations. The University and its officers, employees and agents shall not be liable for loss or damage of any kind resulting from such impoundment.

    VII. IMPOUNDMENT FOR FAILURE TO PAY FINES

    Citation Notices shall clearly indicate that failure to respond by either payment of the fines or a written contest will result in a judgment against the owner and that failure to comply with an order of the Public Safety Department will subject the vehicle to impoundment if it is found parked on University property.Back to Top

    IX. IMPOUNDMENT WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE

    • A vehicle may be impounded without reasonable attempt having been made to notify the owner of the possibility of this action only in the following circumstances:
    • A. The vehicle has no current registration with Seattle University and is found parked during regulated hours on Seattle University property without proper display of a valid parking permit;
    • B. The vehicle is found parked in a designated disabled parking space without a valid Seattle University Disabled Parking Permit;
    • C The vehicle is found parked blocking a driveway, entrance, exit, fire hydrant, in a loading zone, in a no parking area, in an impound zone, on a landscaped area, in a prohibited area, fire zone, or restricting University activities;
    • D. The vehicle is parked on a campus street or mall without proper authorization;
    • E. The vehicle is found to be improperly parked;
    • F. The vehicle is found to be parked in a reserved space.

    X. IMPOUNDMENT OF ABANDONED VEHICLES

    A vehicle not subject to impoundment under Seattle University Parking Regulations may be impounded after notice of such proposed impoundment has been securely attached to and conspicuously displayed on said vehicle for a period of twenty-four (24) hours prior to such impoundment when such is abandoned for 24 hours or longer.