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MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
Vehicle Registration Form

Purpose
These regulations are provided to ensure safe, efficient parking for Mesalands Community College.

Policy
Students, faculty and staff are expected to be familiar with and abide by these regulations and New Mexico Criminal and Motor Vehicle Laws, in addition to the College Regulations which are in effect on Mesalands Community College property 24 hours a day. Strict adherence to all regulations is required to protect pedestrians, vehicles, and to provide access for emergency vehicles.

The College personnel and Tucumcari Police Department have jurisdiction to enforce the regulations with the right to remove or impound any vehicle operated or parked in violation of the regulations. The vehicle’s owner will be required to pay towing and storage charges. The Dean of Student Services has discretionary powers to enforce a policy or traffic control on the campus when not specifically covered by these regulations. Students, faculty and staff are expected to be familiar with and abide by these regulations. The fact that a violation notice is not issued to a vehicle that is illegally parked does not mean or imply that the regulation or law is no longer in effect.

The foregoing purposes and policies are implemented by the following Regulations and Procedures.

Administration
The Dean of Student Services shall administer these policies, regulations and procedures, with assistance from designated College personnel.

Parking Fines Appeals
Students must complete a grievance form obtained from the Student Services Office.

Parking Regulations
A. Vehicle Registration

1.	All motor vehicles, including motorcycles, must have a valid College parking permit to park on campus at any time. A permanent registration permit is properly displayed when affixed on the outside of the lower right corner of the vehicle’s rear window (passenger side). Motorcycle, motor scooter and motorbike decals will be placed on the front fender, or on the front fork. Permits are self-adhering; taping or otherwise temporarily affixing the permit will result in a citation.

2.	Students, faculty and staff may obtain parking permits at the College Student Services Office. There is no charge for registering vehicles. This permit is valid as long as the student is a registered student and no changes have been made in regards to vehicle ownership. The decal authorizes that vehicle to be parked on College property, but it does not guarantee a specific parking place. If a College employee or student has more than one vehicle that might be driven on campus, the additional vehicle should be registered as well.

3.	Bicycles do not require a permit.

4.	Visitor parking permits and special parking permits shall be issued by the College at no charge. Such permits shall not be issued to persons who are students, faculty, staff or who are otherwise receiving compensation for their work on campus. Visitor permits and special permits shall be limited to the dates and times written on the permit. Visitors are required to register the motor vehicle that is to be operated on the premises of Mesalands Community College. Visitors must obey the traffic and parking regulations as a condition to remain on the premises of Mesalands Community College.

5.	Temporary permits may be issued at no charge to persons having a valid College permit. Temporary permits shall have a limit, which shall be stated on the permit. Temporary permits may be obtained at the Student Services Office.

B. Where To Park

1.	Only between lined spaces.

2.	Painted Curbs
	a.	Red Curbs. Do not park - fire lanes (subject to being impounded).
	b.	Yellow Curbs. Do not park.
	c.	Blue Curbs. Do not park, except with New Mexico handicap parking permit.
	d.	White Curbs. Do not park – Parking for College maintenance vehicles only.
3.	Parking Lots
	a.	General Use. All College parking lots are open during operational hours for parking to students, faculty and staff with valid College parking permits displayed on their vehicle.
	b.	Mesalands Community College faculty and staff are to use Lot 1 located north of Building A across Hines Street to leave the parking areas in Lot 2 and adjacent to Building A for student and guests.
	c.	Guest and Special Use. College parking lots are open to guests and temporary permit holders as stated on the permits.
	d.	Special Events. For special events (e.g. Board meetings, College events, community events) parking lots may be opened for general use without permits for the duration of any such event.
	e.	Curbs and Signs. Regulations regarding curb markings and signs are in effect in parking lots.
	f.	Dinosaur Museum. Students attending class are not allowed to park in the Dinosaur Museum's visitor-only parking lot directly in front of the Museum. Students may park in the lot to the west, the lot on the east side of Adams Street, or on Laughlin.

C. General Regulations

1.	Registered owners are responsible for proper parking of a vehicle, regardless of who may be operating the vehicle.

2.	Vehicles shall not be washed or repaired anywhere in campus parking areas.

3.	Vehicles shall not be parked on grass, vegetation or College sidewalks.

4.	For curb parking, vehicles must be parked no more than 18” from the curb.

5.	The responsibility for finding a legal parking space rests with the motor vehicle operator. Lack of space is not considered an excuse for violation of any parking regulation.

6.	When parallel parked, the vehicle must be parked facing the same direction as the traffic flow.

7.	Any person who repeatedly violates parking regulations of the College is subject to vehicle towing and/or the College holding the violator’s official College documents.

8.	Failure to comply with the regulations may result in loss of driving privileges on campus or vehicle impoundment. The registered owner is responsible for paying all costs and any fines levied and is subject to other disciplinary action by the College.

9.	Mesalands Community College assumes no responsibility for damage to a motor vehicle or any loss while it is operated or parked on campus.

D. Suspension of Privilege to Drive and Park on Campus

When a permit holder has accumulated three or more parking violations, the College may prohibit the permit holder from driving or parking on campus for a period of 30 days. At the end of said period he/she will be eligible to apply for reinstatement of all driving privileges. Any person who drives or parks on campus while on suspension may have his/her vehicle impounded.

E. Regulations for the use of Motor Bikes, Motorcycles and Motor Scooters on Campus

1.	These vehicles are subject to the same regulations as four-wheeled motor vehicles.

2.	These vehicles may not be parked in entryways, on sidewalks or pedestrian paths, and must not be stored in College buildings.

3.	These vehicles may not be driven on any walkway, road or driveway not authorized for use by a four-wheeled vehicle.

F. Parking Violations and Fines

The following violations will result in a fine of $10 each (not all possible violations are listed):
	Failure to register
	Failure to display a registration permit properly
	Improper transfer of permit
	Using fictitious, altered, stolen or lost permit
	Parking at yellow curb
	Parking in fire lane (red curb)
	Parking in maintenance zone (white curb)
	Parking in handicapped zone
	Parking in a zone marked "no parking"
	Parking in any service area
	Parking in any zone or area (visitors' area included) other than zone
		or zones authorized by permit
	Obstructing walkway or driveway (towing offense)
	Double parking
	Parking in such a manner as to take the space of two vehicles
	Parking on grass or sidewalks
	Violation of any posted sign
	Obstruction of trash container
	Obstruction of crosswalks
	Parking in areas not striped

G. Citations and Payment

1.	College personnel and College student employees are authorized to issue parking citations for violations of College parking regulations.
2.	Any person who receives a parking citation is required to pay the citation at the College Business Office or by mail to Mesalands Community College, 911 South Tenth Street, Tucumcari, NM 88401, no later than 15 days from the date of the citation.
3.	Fines must be paid by due date even if an appeal is pending.
4.	Fines will be doubled if the driver fails to pay the fine.
5.	Appeals must be filed within 15 days of the date of the citation.
6.	Failure to pay the fine will result in banning the vehicle from parking on campus, and will result in a hold being put on student’s records.

H. Appeals
All parking citations may be appealed to the Dean of Student Services. The following procedure must be followed:

1.	The fine must be paid to the College Business Office located at 911 South Tenth Street, Tucumcari, NM 88401 (575) 461-4413.
2.	A Notice of Appeal form may be obtained from the College Student Services Office. An appointment to meet with the Dean of Student Services will be made at that time.
3.	Complete and sign the Notice of Appeal form and take it to the meeting with the Dean of Student Services.
4.	If the Dean of Student Services determines that the citation was not properly issued, he/she will order a reimbursement of the fine amount. If the Dean of Student Services determines that the citation was properly issued, the College will retain the fine amount.
5.	The decision of the Dean of Student Services shall be final.

If you are registering a vehicle on campus for the first time or your vehicle information or plate changed from the previous year:

A.	Complete the “Vehicle Registration” form for each vehicle.
B	Present your current Mesalands Community College student ID and current drivers license.
C.	Affix parking permit as outlined in Parking Regulations section A.1.

Student parking decals will not be mailed. Parking permits must be obtained in person at the Student Services Office.