What is the mission of the parking program?
The mission of the parking program is intended to safeguard the general welfare of the college community members and guests and to promote order and ease of movement on the campus by supplementing the New York State Motor Vehicle and Traffic Law, which is in full force and effect on the campus.

Where is the Parking Office located?
The University Police Parking Office is located at the corner of State Route 104W and New Street in the former Chase Bank building near the main entrance to the college. The phone number is 315-312-3227.

What are the Parking Office hours of operation?
The Parking Office is open weekdays 7:30 am - 4:20 pm. Summer hours weekdays 7:30 am - 4:00 pm.

How do you register your car to get a parking permit (sticker)?
To purchase a parking permit you may register on-line by going to :Online Parking Registration, follow the instructions for registering and navigate through the parking pages to learn the parking rules and regulations. Or you may register in person at the parking office fill out the registration form and present the form, your method of payment, (cash, credit card or check) and your registration card to the parking clerk. Remember to keep your receipt, take a map and rules and regulations document and affix your parking sticker to your vehicle on the passengers' side lower corner of the front windshield immediately, (so you won't lose it).

Stickers must be displayed on the front windshield, lower passenger side corner and they must be permanently affixed, (meaning that they cannot be taped on) or your vehicle is not considered registered and you could still get a ticket for either improper display of your permit or for being unregistered if you did not put the permit on your car.

You must present a valid vehicle registration if you register in person. Expired registrations cannot be accepted. You may purchase a duplicate vehicle registration at the Dept. of Motor Vehicles where the registered vehicle owner lives if you have misplaced the one issued to you by New York State DMV. The vehicle must be registered to either yourself or an immediate family member living at the same address.

Do you need to present your vehicle registration every time you register for a parking permit?
You need to show your registration every time you get a permanent permit. You do not need to present your vehicle registration when getting a temporary one day permit.

What is the procedure for online parking registration?
Payment for online registrations will be by credit card only, (Master Card, Visa, American Express or Discover). You need to fill out the form online and include your vehicle registration vin (vehicle identification number). Make sure you register in plenty of time for us to mail out your decal before classes start. The online address is: www.oswego.edu/administration/parking/

How much does it cost to park on campus?
Click here for the Parking Fee schedule.

Why is the parking fee not included with the tuition fee?
Not all students drive a vehicle, therefore, the fee is not included with tuition. The parking office is a separate department and the parking fee is a separate mandatory fee.

What forms of payment are accepted?
You may pay by cash, check or credit card, (Master Card, Visa, American Express or Discover) or transfer to Student Accounts.  Inquire at the parking office for more information.

What is the refund policy if you withdraw from school?
You may receive refunds of your parking fee only. The registration fee is non-refundable.   In order to receive a refund, the parking sticker must be returned and a refund must be requested.
100% - refund the first week of classes
70% - refund the second week of classes
50% - refund the third week of classes
30% - refund the fourth week of classes
* not refundable after this time.

Where does the sticker belong on your vehicle?
The sticker belongs on the front windshield in the lower right hand (passenger side) corner. The diagram of where the sticker belongs is on the web site and on the front cover of the parking map.

What if your vehicle has tinted windows?
All parking stickers should now be placed on the front windshield in the lower right hand corner. Please remove any expired stickers. (Permits are not transferrable from car to car or from driver to driver.)

What if you drive a different vehicle on campus for the day?
If you already have a permanent permit for another vehicle, then you need to stop in the parking office to obtain a temporary permit at no charge. If you do not have a permanent permit you may get up to seven temporary permits for $1.00 a day per semester.  Permits are not transferrable.

Do you need to be registered with a parking permit to park on campus for evening classes that start after 4:00 pm?
Anytime you park on campus you need to be registered with a parking permit.

Can you share your parking permit with other people.
No.

Can you leave your vehicle on campus if you are going on a trip?
Yes you can. You need to obtain a temporary parking permit for resident lots if you don't already have a resident sticker, and be sure to park in resident lots overnight. Your car could be ticketed and towed away at your expense if you leave it in a commuting student lot or employee lot.

What are the procedures for handicapped parking?
You must stop at the parking office to purchase a permit. Anyone that has been issued a handicapped hang tag or license plate through the city, town, village clerk or police departments may then park in a handicapped parking space.

What does designated parking mean? Do they ever not enforce parking?
The parking lots are divided into three major lot sections being:
Commuter - students living off campus
Resident - students living on campus
Employee - employees
Parking is enforced year round.

Where should you park when a lot is full?
You may check other close lots that you are registered for.

Can you park overnight if you are a commuter?
Yes you can park overnight. You must register your car with a temporary permit for a resident lot, if you park overnight in a commuter or employee area or any other area that is prohibited, you may be towed away at your expense so please watch the signs carefully and if you have questions ask a parking clerk to help orient you to the legal parking areas.

If you're a resident and you have a visitor come stay with you, where do they park, and do they need a permit?
Visitors that are staying with residents need to come to the parking office where they can get a permit for $1.00 a day and park in resident lots. When the Parking Office is not open you can go to University Police located at Pathfinder Hall to receive a temporary permit.

How do you appeal a ticket?
You must appeal a ticket within two business days of when the ticket is issued to you.

You have three options to appeal a ticket:

In person - bring the ticket into the parking office to set up an appeal. The parking office will schedule you for a date, time and place of where to appear.

On line - Go to: Appeal a Ticket

In writing

Check the back of your ticket for more information.

Can you still receive a parking permit if you owe parking obligations?
No, you must pay all parking obligations before you can purchase a permanent or temporary permit.

How long do you have to pay a ticket, and does the amount increase if you don't pay it on time? 
You have five business days to pay. If you don't pay within five business days the amount will not increase but a "hold" will be put on your account.  Banner "holds" for unpaid citations or delinquent deferments for parking permits will prevent registration for future classes as well as hold up requests for transcripts and diplomas until such time as the financial obligation to the Parking Office has been paid in full.  Once the obligation has been paid in full, the "hold" will be removed within one business day.

Are there other ways to pay for tickets instead of coming in person to the parking office?
Yes, there are other ways to pay for tickets.  Online at www.oswego.edu/administration/parking/ , You may send a check to the parking office payable to SUNY Oswego. You may also fax your credit card information to the parking office. For more information concerning faxing contact the parking office.

Mail checks to : University Police Parking Office
Pathfinder Hall
SUNY Oswego
Oswego, N.Y. 13126

Who issues the parking tickets on campus?
The University Police Officers issue the parking tickets on campus. Student workers for the parking office may also issue parking tickets. These students have been fully trained by the Police Officers.

How many tickets can you get before you are towed?
10 tickets = $200.00 in fines. Students or visitors with this many violations will be sent a letter at your last known address to advise that your parking privileges have been rescinded until you have paid your fines/deferred fees in full. If you do not pay your fines by the date posted in your tow letter you risk being towed at your expense any time that you park in any location on SUNY Oswego property until such time as you have paid your violations in full. You could be towed again and again until the fines are paid in full. Tow fees are currently $85.00 but may be more depending on the type of vehicle that you drive and the number of days that you leave the vehicle in the tow operator's impound area.

Tow operator's are private companies and as such are within their right's to impose charges as they see fit. If you remove your vehicle from a tow operator's impound area without paying in full the fees that you owe their company you may be arrested.

What are the towing procedures?
When you receive 10 tickets adding up to $200.00 you will be put on a tow list. You will be notified by mail before the tow list goes into effect and the date which it becomes effective. Once you are on the tow list and you park on campus you will be towed. To be removed from the tow list you need to pay all your obligations in full.

What changes have been made to parking on campus for the Fall 2009 Semester?
Refer to the new parking map and rules & regulations that will be issued for the Fall 2009 Semester for the parking lot designations changes. For Fall 2009 parking program changes go to the page entitled Parking Program Changes Fall 2009 or pick up a hard copy of the flyer at the parking office.

Why don't we have first come first served open parking on campus?
Parking on the SUNY Oswego campus is first come first served, or open parking within designations during the hours of 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. That means that during the time frames when most of the classes and business is being conducted on this campus, (7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.) You must park in the lots that match the designation on your parking permit (sticker). In our parking program we have 4 designations, they are  Employee (Faculty/Staff), Commuting Student, Freshmen Commuting Student, and Resident Student. You must park in a space in a lot that matches your parking permit designation during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. If the lot where you wish to be is full, you must look for legal parking in another lot that matches your designation. Parking illegally because the lot where you wish to park is full is not an affirmative defense and you may be ticketed or towed (see rules and regulations regarding tow procedures).

After 3:00PM anyone who is legally registered can park in any numbered lot until 12:00 midnight with the exception of Resident Lots.  Resident Parking Lots are reserved for Residents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. From midnight to 6:00 a.m. there is no parking allowed in any employee or commuting student lot. Parking in Employee or Commuting student lots overnight may result in your vehicle being ticketed and towed at your expense.

I'm a freshman can I bring my car to school?
Freshmen resident students can park in any resident student lot after they purchase their resident permit.

Freshmen commuters can park in Lot 7 or Lot 5 only during the hours of 7:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.. After 3:00 p.m. they may park on main campus in any numbered lot until midnight with the exception of Resident Lots. They will be issued a special permit that designates F7 (Freshmen Lot 7) valid only for the Shuttle Lots. See the Parking Program Changes for Fall 2006 flyer for further details.

When we are on break over winter intercession where do we leave our vehicles?
When school is not in session, park in Lot 7 or 5 to facilitate snow plowing over winter break so that on your return the resident lots will be plowed. If you have questions, call the parking office at x3227.

Where does the money I pay for parking fines and fees go and what is it used for?
Parking fines and fees are collected and tallied each business day and deposited to the college accounts. Funds from the parking revenue is used for such things as parking signs, parking lot maintenance, civilian salaries, grounds equipment, parking lot construction etc. Funds from the parking program are used to support only the SUNY Oswego campus.

I got a parking ticket that I don't think is fair and I'm mad about it, what can I do?
Anyone who receives a parking ticket that they wish to protest (appeal) is welcome to process a formal appeal through our appeals process (see question number 22 for further information).

The appeals process is your chance to appeal a citation either in writing, on-line or in person at your discretion.
(See the back of your ticket for complete instructions regarding filing for your appeal.) If you do not request an appeal within two business days you have waived your right to process an appeal for that specific ticket and the ticket then becomes an outstanding obligation. If you do not show up for a scheduled appeal you are found guilty for failure to show and the ticket then becomes an outstanding obligation.

Finally, for all customers, parking staff has an obligation to treat all customers with respect and dignity and to answer questions regarding parking procedures, rules and regulations fully and accurately.

Customers should treat parking staff in the same manner. No one likes to receive parking violations, however, that does not entitle students, employees or visitors to treat parking staff in a personally threatening or intimidating manner. Those in violation may be subject to sanctions via the Office of Judicial Affairs or criminal prosecution from the University Police Department depending on the circumstances.

All complaints, questions or problems may be directed to the Parking Division at the University Police Parking Office, 315-312-3227 or by email at parking-list@ls.oswego.edu

NYS University Police
SUNY Oswego
Oswego, NY 13126
Police: 315-312-5555  pubsaf@oswego.edu
Parking: 315-312-3227  parking-list@ls.oswego.edu
fax: 315-312-2155