Tickets, Violations, and Appeals

Parking citations are an important part of keeping streets, parking lots, and sidewalks safe, accessible, and fairly shared by everyone—but they don’t have to feel one-sided. A clear and transparent citation and appeal process ensures that enforcement is not only consistent, but also accountable and responsive. When drivers understand why a citation was issued and know they have a straightforward way to ask questions or request a review, it builds trust in the system. By balancing enforcement with fairness, the process helps maintain order within our parking lots while giving every individual the opportunity to be heard.

Violation Process

The registered owner of a vehicle is responsible for all notices, parking fees, citations, or towing expenses that the vehicle may incur while it is registered in your name.

Parking Violations and Fines

Overtime Meter Violation

A Meter Violation occurs when a vehicle remains parked beyond the time that has been properly paid for or authorized. This can happen in a few common ways: by not paying a physical parking meter, by failing to complete or extend a session using the ParkMobile app, or by not displaying a valid visitor permit when one is required.

Fines:

1–4 violations ($10)
5–9 violations ($15)
10+ violations ($20)

No Permit or Improper Violation

A Permit Violation occurs when a vehicle is parked in a parking lot without the proper permit.

In Residential or Guaranteed parking lot, we only sell as many permits as there are spaces. When a vehicle parks in one of these lots without the proper permit, it can directly prevent someone who has paid for and relies on that space from being able to use it.

Fines:

1-4 violations ($25)
5-9 violations ($35)
10+ violations ($50)

Prohibited Parking Violation

A Prohibited Violation occurs when a vehicle is parked in areas that are not designated for parking at all, such as along a yellow curb, on a sidewalk, blocking a crosswalk/sidewalk egress, or on grassy areas. These locations are restricted to maintain safety, accessibility, and the proper flow of not onlyl vehicle traffic—but for pedestrian traffic as well.

Per Chapter 5 of the Parking Ordinance: Prohibited Parking areas are not required to have posted signage to be enforceable.

Fines:

1-4 violations ($25)
5-9 violations ($35)
10+ violations ($50)

Service Vehicle Only Violation

A Service Vehicle Violation occurs when a vehicle that is not authorized parks in a space reserved specifically for university service operations. These designated areas are intended for official vehicles used for maintenance work, after-hours response, and emergency situations. Keeping these spaces available ensures that staff can quickly access buildings and respond to issues without delay.

Fines:

1-4 violations ($25)
5-9 violations ($35)
10+ violations ($50)

Winter Night-Parking Ban Violation

A Winter Night Parking Ban Violation refers to parking in violation of designated overnight restrictions that are in place to help keep campus streets, roadways, and parking lots open and clear for maintenance operations. These restrictions are essential for ensuring that university crews can safely and efficiently perform necessary work across campus.

While the ban is most commonly associated with snow removal during winter weather, its purpose extends beyond snowfall events. In the fall, the restrictions help prepare parking lots for winter conditions. In the spring, the ban also supports campus maintenance activities such as street/lot sweeping, cleaning lots, and completing repairs like pothole patching.

Fines:

1-4 violations ($25)
5-9 violations ($35)
10+ violations ($50)

Disabled Parking Spaces Violation

A Disability/Handicap Space Violation occurs when a vehicle parks in a designated accessible parking space without the proper credentials. These spaces are reserved for individuals with disabilities who require closer and more accessible access to sidewalk egresses, buildings and services. To legally use these spaces, a valid state-issued disability placard or license plate is required, and it must be properly displayed while the vehicle is parked.

Accessible parking areas also include a van access aisle, which is the striped space adjacent to certain accessible stalls. This area is not a parking space—it is specifically designed to provide room for wheelchair lifts or ramps to safely deploy from vans. When this aisle is blocked, it can prevent individuals with mobility devices from entering or exiting their vehicles, creating a significant safety and accessibility issue.

Fine:

$100

Other Violations

Other violations that may be more uncommon but still enforceable include Parking Not to Obstruct Traffic, Parking in Alleyways, Parking for Certain Purposes (Performing vehicle repairs, displaying the vehicle for sale, selling items from the vehicle, washing and/or waxing the vehicle), Parking Within a Space, Loading Zone/Dock without actively loading or unloading, and Notice to Move Vehicle.

Fine:

Payment of Fines

Parking violations may be paid online or at the Transportation Services Office within 10 business days of issuance. Parking privileges may be suspended when a violation is 45 days past due. After 60 days, unpaid fines may be sent to a collection agency.

The University may place a hold on a student account for unpaid citations.

Appeal a Citation Here

Violation Appeals Process

Appeals can only be filed online

The appeal process is your opportunity to explain why you may have parked in violation and why you reasonably believe that the citation should be reduced to a warning. It is also an opportunity for Transportation Services to instruct you on how to avoid future citations. (The First-Level Appeal is reviewed in-house and a determination is made)
Appeals must be submitted within 10 business days of the date of the violation. Submit an appeal online.
General questions regarding specific parking violations or if you would like to add an attachment to your appeal, should be directed to Transportation Services at parking@mtu.edu.
If your appeal is denied at the first level and you don't agree with the decision, you may submit a Second-Level Appeal for further review. Your citation will be transferred from the Transportation Services office to the Second-Level Appeals Committee, which is composed of five members of the campus community who are independent of Transportation Services.

The committee will review your appeal and issue a final decision after careful consideration. This determination is final and concludes the appeal process. By choosing to proceed with a Second-Level Appeal, you acknowledge and accept these terms.
1. The Second-Level Appeal Committee members remain anonymous to ensure fairness and protect University colleagues and peers from any potential repercussions related to appeal decisions. In the same way that committee members are not identified, the appellant’s name is also not disclosed to the committee during the review process.
2. Currently (as of February 2025) the five member committee is made up of the following:
  1. One member from a Research Department
  2. One member from an Auxiliary Department
  3. Two members from two seperate Service Departments
  4. One member from an Academic Department
A Second-Level Appeal must be submitted within 10 business days of the date of your first-level appeal's determination letter. Submit a second-level appeal online.

The following are examples of explanations that should not be used for an appeal:

"I forgot to pay"
"I was running late"
"I was forced to park in this manner"
"There were no other places to park"
"You should know my car"
"I can't afford to pay the ticket"
"Other vehicles were parked the same way"
"I see vehicles parked like that all of the time, and they don't get tickets"
"The car next to me wasn't ticketed, so I shouldn't have been"

Towing Process

Violators who accumulate four (4) unpaid citations will be designated as a scofflaw and placed on the Transportation Services “Tow Warning” list. When issuing the fourth unpaid citation, parking enforcement officers will include a note stating: “Tow Warning – 10 Day Notice.”

Once a vehicle is classified as a scofflaw, the Tow List policy takes effect, which includes the following:

An initial notification—typically sent via email, though verbal, phone, or written notice may also be used—informing the driver of the tow warning, the total balance due, and the 10-business-day deadline after which the vehicle becomes eligible for towing.
A second notification will be issued prior to the deadline as a reminder.
If all outstanding citations (including any additional citations incurred) are not resolved by the end of the 10-business-day period, the vehicle will be placed on the Transportation Services “Tow List.”
Once on the Tow List, the vehicle is prohibited from parking on campus under any circumstances. If found on university property, it will be cited for Prohibited Parking, towed, and impounded.
A towed vehicle will not be released from impound until Transportation Services (or Public Safety, if after hours) verifies that all citations have been paid.
The driver is responsible for all outstanding citation fees, as well as any towing, impound, and storage charges incurred.

For more information on the University towing policy, please see Board of Trustee Ordinance 1 - Traffic Regulations.

Relocation Process

Transportation Services routinely manages parking lots to support essential operations such as snow removal, academic break parking adjustments, and reserved lots for campus events. To minimize disruption, we make every effort to notify permit holders in advance—primarily through email—whenever vehicles must be moved.

Despite these notifications, any vehicle that remains in a restricted or reserved area may be subject to enforcement. Vehicles that are not removed from the parking lot by the posted deadline will be cited for Prohibited Parking and relocated to another area of campus to allow operations to proceed. Any relocation-related charges will be applied to the student’s bill.

If your vehicle is immobile or you are otherwise unable to move it, please contact Transportation Services as soon as possible to request accommodations. While we can avoid issuing a citation in certain circumstances, relocation of the vehicle will still be necessary to ensure the success and safety of campus operations.