Traffic and Parking

General Vehicle Regulations and Parking

The person to whom the vehicle is registered on campus is held fully responsible for any violation involving the vehicle, even if another person was using the vehicle at the time of the violation.

The University assumes no liability for damage to or theft of any vehicle or its contents, or for the injury or death of anyone involved in a vehicular accident while on University property.

Policy Governing Parking and Traffic Regulations

Students may have motor vehicles on campus providing they hold a valid driver's license, are driving an insured vehicle, comply with local and state laws, and obey all University traffic and parking regulations. Vehicles on campus are the responsibility of the student who registers and/or drives the car, and are here at the student's risk. The University does not assume any risk or responsibility for vehicles driven or parked on campus.

All vehicles must be registered with the Campus Security Office within one class day of the vehicle's arrival on campus. Students must go online to WebAdvisor to register their vehicle. A License plate number, VIN number, company name of vehicle insurance, and driver’s license number will be required to register a student’s vehicle. Upon picking up the decal for the registered vehicle, a $150.00 parking fee will be charged to the student's account. Those persons who have more than one vehicle available to them and who desire parking privileges for each vehicle, will be required to register each vehicle and pay the $150.00 parking fee. Decals must be AFFIXED to the inside, front windshield, driver’s side, upper corner. There may be times when a student is driving a vehicle that does not belong to him/her on a temporary basis. During those times, a student must report to the Security Office with the license plate number of the temporary vehicle to obtain a temporary parking permit. There is no cost for this temporary permit. A vehicle requiring a temporary permit longer than fourteen days constitutes a second vehicle and an additional decal must be purchased for that vehicle.

Any person who is auditing a class shall obtain a temporary parking pass from the Campus Security Office within one day of the start of class. Members of the campus community who park a vehicle on campus without first obtaining a parking decal or temporary permit from the Campus Security Office will be subject to a fine of $25.00. This regulation will be in effect at all times.

Parking is authorized and restricted according to the following guidelines:

  • Parking lots will be checked and parking regulations enforced 24 hours a day, seven days a week
  • When parking, vehicles are to be parked between two (2) white lines. There is no parking along any curb or fire lane on campus.
  • Katherine B. & Mills E. Godwin, Jr. Lot, between Bray Village and Hofheimer Library –  Faculty/Staff, students and handicap parking. Faculty/Staff and students are not allowed to park in any RESERVED or WELCOME CENTER spaces.
  • Avenue of the Sciences Parking in front of Blocker Hall – The row directly in front of Blocker is for Faculty/Staff and Handicap parking only.
  • Dennie Allen Village/Birdsong Field Lot behind Allen Village –  – Faculty/Staff, students, medical personnel and handicap parking. The row along the tree line is for Faculty/Staff only. The service drive and loading area are to be used only for service vehicles. It is extremely important that this drive be left open for service and emergency vehicles.
  • Kenneth R. Perry Field Lot is the baseball field parking lot - Faculty/Staff, students and handicap parking.
  • Shelhorse Lane Parking – Faculty/Staff, students and handicap parking.
  • Boyd Dining Center Lot behind Boyd Dining Hall - Faculty/Staff, students and handicap parking.
    There is no parking in the circle adjacent to Boyd.
  • Jane P. Batten Student Center Lot is located adjacent to the Jane P. Batten Student Center - Faculty/Staff, students, visitors, and handicap parking unless otherwise reserved for special events. Parking along the curb is prohibited.
  • Jane & Macon Brock Village Lot behind the apartments - student, reserved spaces, and handicap parking.
  • David R. Goode Complex Lot – Faculty/Staff and handicap parking.
  • Facilities Management Lot - Faculty/Staff
  • Blocker Science/Humanities Center Service Drive and Loading Area is to be used only for service vehicles. It is extremely important that this drive be left open for service and emergency vehicles.
  • Fifty-nine (59) parking spaces for disabled persons are located about throughout the campus.
  • Additional parking spaces will be authorized, designated and announced to the campus community as new buildings are completed and the need for more parking space arises. Student vehicles may not be parked in grass areas that have not been designated by Security as parking spaces.
  • Parking on Smith Drive or on any roadway is prohibited. Parking in entrances, loading zones, and other restricted areas is prohibited.
  • Blocker Science/Humanities Center Service Drive and Loading Area is to be used only for service vehicles. It is extremely important that this drive be left open for service and emergency vehicles.
  • On occasion, it may become necessary to park for a short time in an otherwise restricted area for the purpose of loading and/or unloading heavy or cumbersome items. If this situation should occur, you must first contact the Campus Security Officer on duty by calling 757.455.3289 BEFORE parking. Please activate your four-way flashers while loading and unloading. A strict 15 minute limit will be enforced.
  • Special events held on campus will sometimes require the use of designated parking lots for other than intended use. Security Officers will therefore restrict these areas with parking cones. If a parking cone is removed from a reserved space or lot, a $25.00 fine will be imposed. Students, faculty, and staff will be directed to alternative parking. Your cooperation and understanding is appreciated.
  • Under certain circumstances or where public safety may be an issue, illegally parked vehicles are subject to towing and/or having wheel-locking devices placed on the vehicle. All related expenses will be the responsibility of the registered owner and must be paid when recovering the vehicle.
  • Motorcycles may be operated and parked on campus subject to the following regulations:
    • All motorcycles are to be registered in the Campus Security Office and a decal purchased.
    • All state and local laws pertaining to motorcycles or other motorized two-wheeled vehicles are in effect on campus. This includes safety equipment requirements.
    • Motorcycles will not be parked or housed in any building on the University campus.
  • Bicycles may be operated and parked on campus subject to the following regulations:
    • Comply with University and traffic regulations when operating bicycles on campus.
    • Bicycles should be stored in the bicycle racks located throughout campus.
    • Fire safety regulations prohibit the storage of bicycles in stairwells and hallways.

Other traffic regulations are as follows:

  • The campus speed limit is 25 M.P.H.
  • All vehicles must enter and exit the campus via the main drive.
  • Four-wheeling is prohibited on campus.
  • The use of VWU facilities and/or utilities for washing or servicing private vehicles is prohibited.
  • Guests parking on campus are subject to the same parking regulations as students and are the responsibility of the student who registers the guest. If a guest receives a parking fine, the student’s
    account will be charged.
  • A guest’s vehicle found on campus after visiting hours and with no overnight pass will receive a fine of $25 and the student who registered the guest will be charged.

Fines will be imposed for the following violations:

  • Students parked in designated Faculty/Staff, RESERVED or WELCOME CENTER parking spaces will be subject to a fine of $25.00.
  • Traffic violations, i.e. speeding, unsafe driving, failure to stop, driving the wrong way on a one way street, will result in a $25.00 fine.
  • Members of the campus community who park a vehicle on campus without first obtaining a parking decal or temporary permit from the Campus Security office will be subject to an automatic fine of $25.00. This regulation will be in effect at all times.
  • Parking in loading areas and medical reserved spaces will be subject to a fine of $25.00.
  • No vehicles are to be driven on University sidewalks, grounds, lawns, or open fields. Vehicles are to be driven only on campus streets, roadways, and parking lots. Violation of this section will result in an automatic $25.00 fine plus charges for any damages to University property.
  • The charge for parking in a handicapped space or in a fire lane will be $100.00.

Traffic violations will be handled in the following manner:

  • Tickets will be written in two (2) parts. One part will be placed on the violator's vehicle and the stub will be retained by the Security Office. Minor discrepancies between parts will not necessarily invalidate the ticket.
  • Fines shall be automatic unless the violator feels they have received the ticket in error. The violator must appears in the Campus Security office within seven (7) working days after the violation occurs to discuss the fine. If the violator is not satisfied with the outcome, they can file a request with the Community Relations Council to hold a formal hearing on the case. The request for the hearing must be made in writing within three (3) days of appearing in the Campus Security office or the violation stands without the right of appeal. If the violator does not appear in the Campus Security Office to discuss the fine or request a hearing before the Community Relations Council, they will be billed for the charge.

If you have any questions concerning parking, contact Campus Security at ext. 3349.