Why do I have to register my car?
Registering your vehicle with the Safety and Security Office is a requirement of both the City and the University. Registration can be done for free and is designated as a "Street Parking" permit. The City’s concern centers mostly on transportation management issues. SPU is required to monitor the number of vehicles brought to the campus, as well as provide information and services that allow people to use other avenues of commuting, like the Metro buses or rideshare system. The University requires that vehicles be registered regardless of whether vehicles are parked in campus lots or on city streets, so that we can easily locate owners, should there be an emergency. It also assists with lot assignments and quick identification. Unregistered vehicles are subject to fines.
Are there times I can park in SPU lots even without a parking e-permit?
During the school year (i.e., from the day classes begin in the Fall to the last day of classes in the Spring), SPU students, employees, and guests may park in Commuter parking lots (with the exception of the S lot) without a parking permit from 6 p.m.–7 a.m., Monday through Friday, and all day on Saturday and Sunday. During the summer, the lots are open, but long-term summer parking is not available. At no time may any person park in a disabled space, a fire lane, or a reserved space (i.e., any numbered space) without permission—these restrictions are enforced 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
What if I have to drive a different car to campus?
If you are changing your vehicle to a different one than the one you have registered with our department, you must submit your new vehicle information into the Parking Account Change form. By doing this, our Parking Patrol can avoid ticketing the new vehicle, and we can locate you should the need arise. If your regular car is out of commission, due to mechanical problems, a temporary e-permit will be issued. Please fill out the Temporary Vehicle form to complete this process. Once it has been verified that you have purchased a valid permit for the current quarter, your information will be updated on our end.
How and when do I pay for parking?
For Students, charges will be placed on your account in Student Financial Services. You will not be charged until you are issued a billing confirmation via email. Faculty/Staff will see monthly deductions begin the following month on their payroll.
How are parking assignments determined?
Currently, SPU uses a priority system for deciding the parking assignments since the demand for permits cannot always be met by available space:
- The date the application is received in our office
- Residence (for residential students only)
- Special considerations (medical reasons, off-campus job, etc.)
According to the priority system, we will assign people to the lots accordingly. Anyone not receiving a permit in the beginning moves onto a waiting list and will be assigned as soon as spaces become available according to the waiting list. After the cut-off date on the registration, first priority will be changed to the date the application is received.
Where do I place my day pass?
Day Pass permits must be placed on the vehicle's dashboard.
When will I know what space I have received?
Once your parking application has been processed, you will receive an email confirmation that will include your approved lot and stall. The time frame for receiving this stall assignment is dependent on the time of year. If you are applying before or at a quarter start, you can expect your stall assignment before the first day of classes. For the rest of the year, you will receive it within 7 business days of the application's submission.