Parking Ticket Appeal

Any person who feels that a parking ticket was issued in error may contest the parking ticket by filing a notice of appeal with the Public Safety Office. An appeal must be filed in accordance within the timelines and the procedures set forth in the parking brochure and Public Safety web site.

According to college policy, disregarding of a parking ticket will result in the charging of costs to the student's account. These charges will be treated on the same basis as any other debt due to the College.

Notice:  All persons receiving a citation have a right to appeal within 5 business days of the date of Notice of Parking ticket. To file an appeal, complete the form and sign the statement. The results of an appeal will be mailed to you.

General reasons that violations won't be dismissed Below are some commonly listed reasons given for violating parking regulations. While these reason's may seem valid to the violator, they do not address the laws of Pennsylvania and the policies of The College. These reasons generally will not result in the violations being dismissed, or the violator being successful on appeal.

• Short Errands No errand, no matter how short or how important to the driver short of a medical emergency, is an acceptable excuse for illegal parking. A short errand is a very common excuse. It is not a valid reason for illegal parking!
• Late for business or personal appointment or classes Being late does not permit the driver the privilege of parking illegally!
• No place else to park - The Lot was full Other than being an invalid excuse, this, in fact confirms the driver's liability. It is the driver's responsibility to locate legal parking!.
• I didn't see the sign - I didn't understand the sign Drivers are required to look for signs when parking. This may mean checking an entire lot from corner to corner. Drivers are also required to abide by the directions on the signs. A person indicating that they did not see a sign preventing parking is not an acceptable excuse!
• Only part of my car was illegally parked A violation is not based on a certain percentage of the vehicle being illegally parked. If part of the vehicle extends into a restricted area, the violation is the same as if the entire vehicle encroached!
• I left someone in the car; I left my parking lights on or blinking; I left a note in the car as to my whereabouts with the motor running Many drivers seem to think that evidence of a short stay mitigates the offense. It does not. The purpose of parking regulations is to restrict from certain places or permitted at times, motor vehicles, which are not in motion. The presence of a passenger, a sign, or blinking lights does not this purpose and, therefore, does not constitute a valid reason to dismiss a violation. 
• It was only a few minutes This explanation is one of the most common claims. Even if true, parking in a prohibited area is still a violation!
• Nobody else got a ticket Sometimes this excuse is raised as discriminatory enforcement. The officer may have had to leave the area before checking all the vehicles, however, a parking citation stands on its own!
• Someone else had my car The registered owner has joint responsibility with whoever was driving his or her car. Unless it can be shown by the registered owner that the car was driven without permission, the registered owner, renter or lessee is responsible for a parking violation!
• A college official saw me park and didn't say anything - or said it was OK for a few minutes Generally speaking, employees have no authority to give permission to break the law or college policy. Whenever possible, an office will caution about illegal parking, but silence by an official does not waive parking restriction!
• This violation has not been enforced in the past This normally is not the case, however, inadequate staffing or other priorities may give rise to violations not being enforced continually; but, nowhere does apparent failure to enforce parking laws constitute a valid excuse for illegal parking!
• I've done it for years - Everybody does it This is never a valid excuse for illegally parking. Nobody should be rewarded for getting away with prior violations