Parking Services

Permit Sales/Citation Payments
Housing and Residential Services &
Parking Services
Aubuchon Hall
North side entrance
(978) 665-3219

Enforcement
Campus Police
Russell Towers
Across from Holmes Dining Commons
(978) 665-3111

Parking Services Links:

• Shuttle Bus Service
• Restricted Residential Freshmen Parking
• Permits
• Permits - Temporary
• Emergency/Snow Removal
• Citation Payment
• Parking Tickets
• Parking Appeals
  

Campus Police and Housing and Residential Services jointly operate Parking Services functions for Fitchburg State College. The Parking Committee reviews policy and planning related to parking functions for the college, and includes student, faculty and staff representatives. Parking lot maps and the current parking rules and regulations guide are also available at both offices. The college is not responsible for any loss or damage to vehicles while parking in lots on the main campus or at the Civic Center.

The college maintains 24 parking areas on the main campus. A permit is required to park in any lots on the main campus. Additional parking is available at the Wallace Civic Center, which offers parking for hundreds of cars and is serviced by two shuttle busses that transport students, employees, and guests to the main campus. There is no charge for the shuttle.

Rules and Regulations

The rules and regulations set forth have been developed to control traffic and parking for all persons utilizing the parking areas at Fitchburg State College. Anyone operating a motor vehicle on property owned, operated, or controlled by Fitchburg State College is subject to these regulations and the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts unless otherwise exempt by state or federal laws. It is the responsibility of all persons utilizing the college parking facilities to be aware of and follow these regulations.

Permission to operate a motor vehicle on the grounds of Fitchburg State College is a discretionary privilege given by the Board of Trustees of the College, conferences, and guests. This privilege may be denied, revoked, suspended, or modified by the Board of Trustees or by officers of the college authorized to take such action under Chapter 73, Section 18, of the General Laws of the Commonwealth.

No one may park a vehicle in violation of these rules and regulations. The permit holder of the motor vehicle will be held responsible for all parking violations issued to the vehicle. Ignorance of these regulations will not be an acceptable reason for appealing a violation. Fitchburg State College assumes no responsibility for vehicles parked or operated on College property.

Registered Vehicles

Properly registered motor vehicles may be parked on campus within white lined spaces with a valid Fitchburg State College hangtag affixed to the rearview mirror of the vehicle. Use of these parking facilities during nondesignated hours without written authorization constitutes illegal parking.

Parking Permits

Housing and Residential Services issues parking permits to each student, faculty, staff member or visitor to campus wishing to park a vehicle on the main campus, including the Civic Center parking lot. In order to obtain a parking permit, the individual must have a valid FSC ID Card. Permits must be properly displayed in the vehicle before the permit is considered valid.

Commuter (Red)

All full or part-time non-resident students are eligible for this permit. Motor vehicles bearing such a permit may park in areas designated by a red parking sign. This parking is valid from 7:00am through 12:00am (midnight). In addition, between the hours of 4:00pm to 12:00am (midnight) vehicles may park in any red or blue lots. The permit is only valid when hung from the rear-view mirror (red side out). This permit costs $50 and is valid from September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008.

Residential Permit (Green)

Students living on campus in residence halls with 24 or more earned credits are eligible for this permit. Students who are not eligible for a green permit are encouraged to apply for a Civic Center permit. Motor vehicles bearing a resident permit may park in areas designated by a green parking sign. The permit is valid
only when hung from the rear-view mirror (green side out). This permit costs $100 and is valid from September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2008.

24-hour-parking is restricted to the following lots: Upper Weston, Ross, McKay Lower and Rear, (staff parking spaces are not 24 hour parking), North #2, Upper Cedar, and Upper & Lower Mara.

Civic Center Permit (Light Green)

All students are eligible for this permit. Motor vehicles bearing such a permit may
park at the Civic Center 24 hours. During weekends, Friday 5:00pm through Sunday 12:00am (midnight), vehicles with this permit may also park in Overnight Parking
Lots. The permit is valid only when hung from the rear-view mirror (light green side out). This permit is free of charge and is valid from September 1, 2007 through
August 31, 2008.

Staff Permit (Blue)

All full or part-time employees of the college are eligible for this permit. This permit is only valid when hung from the rear-view mirror (blue side out). The hang-tag permit is transferable between vehicles. Employees of the College Bookstore, Food Service, city employees at McKay School, and staff of affiliated programs are also eligible. Motor vehicles bearing such a permit may park in lots designated by a blue parking sign. The parking permit is valid from 7:00am - 12:00am (midnight) only. This permit is free of charge and valid from September 1, 2007 through August 31, 2010.

Motorcycle Parking

These vehicles will be parked only in areas designated for them. Motorcycles are not required to display a permit.

Handicapped Parking

A number of parking spaces have been designated on campus for the handicapped. These spaces have been identified by signs and painted decals within each parking spot.

Vehicles displaying a valid handicapped license plate or official placard from a Registry of Motor Vehicles are allowed to park in designated handicapped parking spaces. There are no exceptions.

Temporary Permits

Temporary Permits can be obtained from Housing and Residential Services. All visitors, vendors, or outside contractors doing business with Fitchburg State College are eligible for this permit. This permit should be hung from the rearview mirror while the motor vehicle is parked on college property. Temporary permits are required of each visitor or guest who parks a vehicle on campus.

Overnight guest parking permits can be obtained from Housing and Residential Services during business hours, and from Campus Police after business hours. Resident students must accompany their guests requiring overnight parking privileges and must have their valid FSC ID Card with them. The guest must present their vehicle registration and a picture ID to obtain the permit. Overnight guests, along with the host, are responsible for all parking regulations, including the snow removal policy.

Students or employees with the temporary use of a car not normally driven and are registered for a valid permit with the college are eligible for this permit.

Snow Removal Policy

In order to facilitate the removal of snow from the parking areas of the college, parking is prohibited in accordance with the following: When school has been cancelled due to inclement weather, all motor vehicles must be removed from all staff and commuter student parking areas within on hour of the official closing of school.

In the event of snowfall, instructions will be available at (978) 665-3006. Each storm is different and additional snow removal my be necessary days after a storm is over. Staying aware of parking policies during this time is the permit-holder and guest's responsibility. Vehicles will often be required to be moved to the Civic Center parking lot to allow for plowing operations to proceed. Shuttle transportation will be provided for as long as possible to transport you back on campus and again the following day to return cars to campus lots.

If it snows and classes are not cancelled, normal regulations are in effect.

If classes are cancelled during the course of the day, you will be instructed where to put your car at the time of closing. You will need to call (978) 665-3006 between 5:00pm - 7:00pm, and again between 6:00am - 8:00am and 11:00am - 1:00pm the next day for further information.

If classes are delayed or cancelled for the entire day, or if snow falls on a weekend or holiday, you must call (978) 665-3006 between 6:00am - 8:00am for instructions, and again between 11:00am - 1:00pm and 5:00pm - 7:00pm for further instructions. Campus Police also attempts to notify resident students by email when possible.

All vehicles found to be impeding snow removal operations will be ticketed, towed or stored at the owner's expense, whether the owner is present or away from campus.

Disabled Motor Vehicle

If a motor vehicle should become disabled, you must notify Campus Police at
978-665-3111. Every effort must be made to remove disabled vehicles from state property within a reasonable period of time.

Authority to Regulate Parking Fines

Under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 73, Section 18 (Acts of 1963, Chapter 642, Section 18) and in accordance with the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 90, Section 20A (Acts of 1981, Chapter 647), the Board of Trustees of the College and/or their designated representative have established the following motor vehicle violations and fines, as well as the efforts in enforcing such violations and the collection of all fines. Any of the following parking manners shall constitute illegal parking and subject the offender to the following penalties:

Responsibility for citations are assigned to the permit holder, regardless of ownership of the vehicle. Citations assigned to a non-permitted vehicle are the owners' responsibility.

Citation Payments

The Campus Police Department is authorized to enforce parking policies and to have the ability to issue citations and/or towing of vehicles found in violation of parking policies. All citation fines are payable to Fitchburg State College within 21 days after the date of violation. Payments may be made by mail, in person, or by an authorized person. Payments may be made at Housing and Residential Services on Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm, or by mailing a check or money order to Fitchburg State College, Parking Services, 160 Pearl Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420.

Failure To Pay Fines

Individuals who fail to resolve a parking violation within 21 days will be assessed the appropriate late fine. Student permit holders who have failed to resolve a parking violation within 90 days will have a "hold" placed on their Fitchburg State College records (BANNER), which can prevent such functions as registration, issuance of transcripts and financial transactions.

Faculty/Staff permit holders and individuals of non-permitted vehicles who have failed to resolve a parking violation within 90 days may be reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), which can result in the non-renewal of one's license to drive or vehicle registration.

Excessive Violations

Student permit holders who have five for more unresolved violations regardless of the age of the violation will have a hold placed on their Fitchburg State College records (BANNER), which can prevent such functions as registration, issuance of transcripts, and financial transactions. Student permit holders who have 10 or more parking violations, resolved or unresolved, within an academic year may be towed and/or referred to the Student Conduct Office for disciplinary action, which could include the loss of parking privileges.

Faculty/Staff permit holders and individuals of non-permitted vehicles who have five or more unresolved violations that are 90 days or older may be reported to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), which can result in the non-renewal of one's license to drive or vehicle registration.

Right of Appeal

Any person receiving a parking violation while parking a motor vehicle at Fitchburg State College has the right to appeal to the College Parking Appeals Officer. Appeal forms are available online, Housing and Residential Services, and Campus Police, or appeals may be submitted via email to parkingappeals@fsc.edu. All appeals must be made in writing within ten (10) business days after the issue of the violation. Notification of decisions will be sent to the appellant in a timely fashion. The appellant has the right of re-appeal in person with the Parking Appeals Officer. All decisions of the Parking Appeals Officer are final.

Civic Center Parking and Shuttle Bus Service

The Wallace Civic Center parking is available 24 hours a day. The shuttle service runs Monday - Thursday from 7:00am - 12:00am (midnight), Friday from 7:00am - 6:30pm, and on Sunday from 6:30pm - 12:00am (midnight). There is a second shuttle on Monday and Friday from 7:30am - 12:30pm and on Thursday from 7:30am - 3:30pm. The shuttle service will not run on Saturday. The shuttle service is free of charge.

Questions...Call Housing and Residential Services

For parking questions and information, please contact Housing and Residential Services & Parking Services on Monday through Friday, between 8:00am to 5:00pm. You can reach our office directly at 978-665-3219.

In an emergency, call Campus Police at 978-665-3111. Campus Police can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Restricted Residential Freshmen Parking

All Residential freshmen students will be required to park at the Wallace Civic Center parking lot. A student with less than 24 earned credits and residing on-campus will not be eligible for a parking permit for the main campus. Students must obtain a Civic Center hang-tag at NO CHARGE. Students will be required to obtain this hang-tag as it assists Campus Police and Parking Services in contacting a student, if necessary. Freshmen with a Civic Center hang-tag will be allowed to park in campus parking
lots during the weekend, as of 5:00pm on Friday. All freshmen must move their vehicles back to the Civic Center by 12:00am (midnight) on Sunday.

Contact Information for Housing and Residential Services

Contact Information for Campus Police