Authority and Purpose

Definitions

Campus Parking Services: A unit of Operations under the Division of Finance and Facilities.

Annuitant: An individual receiving a pension from the State Universities Retirement system whose last employer was NIU.

Employee: An individual who is employed by the university via the employment office known as Contracts, Records, and Reports. A student employee who is employed via the Student Employment Office or the Graduate School is defined as a student with regard to the Parking Regulations.

Student: An individual who has applied for admission to the university, received permission to register, or has matriculated into a degree program. Summer school sessions and semester break periods are not considered to be a break in a student’s academic pursuits.

Visitor: An individual neither attending nor employed by the university who operates a vehicle on campus.

Handicapped Parking: Available for use only by vehicles displaying handicapped or wheelchair license plates, state or municipality-issued parking card, and the appropriate NIU parking permit. Handicapped spaces are enforced at all times. Persons with special parking needs are encouraged to contact Campus Parking Services.

Pay-parking: Includes facilities regulated by payment to a lot attendant and facilities regulated by parking meters.

University facilities: Includes all real property under the control of the Board of Trustees and encompasses the terms “lot,” “spaces,” “parking areas,” “streets,” and the like. References to “streets” include only university-owned streets.

General

1. Parking permits issued by the university must be displayed in all motor vehicles using university parking facilities except pay-parking and NIU service vehicles. Details about the types of regular and temporary permits available can be found here.
   
   Parking lots and regular parking permits are color-coded. The colors are blue, brown, green, orange, and yellow. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to exchange or return their parking permit if their employment status, student status or residence changes. Parking permits do not guarantee a parking space.
   
   Displaying a permit, the color for which one does not qualify, may result in parking fines and/or having parking privileges revoked.
   
   Motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, and motorized pedacycles must be registered under the same conditions as other vehicles and are subject to the same regulations as other vehicles. Motorcycles are to be parked only in metered spaces, 15-minute spaces and designated motorcycle parking areas. Motorcycle permits are available to faculty, staff and students.
   
   
2. Pay-parking is available for visitors in designated pay parking areas and at parking meters located throughout campus. Regular permit holders and university-owned vehicles that use pay-parking facilities must pay the daily/meter fee. Use of the pay lot as a residence hall lot is prohibited. Vehicles left in the pay lot overnight may be charged for the next day’s use. Pay-parking is enforced
   from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Friday unless
   otherwise posted.
   


3. Reserved meter parking is available in some areas. To use a reserved meter parking space, a departmental-issued, reserved meter permit card must be displayed on the driver’s side of the windshield and the user must feed the meter. Vehicles parked in reserved meter spaces not displaying a reserved meter permit card will be ticketed for improper parking.
   


4. Theft of, or damage to, vehicles occurring on university property (including damage to vehicle paint by cooling tower spray, or gravel or stone in unpaved lots) shall not be the responsibility of the university.
   


5. University parking lots may be closed for special events, maintenance, and whenever it is deemed necessary without prior notice.
   


6. University-owned vehicles are not exempt from parking
   regulations and restrictions. Drivers of such vehicles are
   responsible for tickets incurred.

7. The posting or distribution of flyers and other such media on vehicles or in the parking garage is prohibited unless authorized by Campus Parking Services.

Parking

1. Abandoned vehicles: Vehicles that appear to be abandoned may be disposed of in accordance with State of Illinois statutes or as follows. Vehicles that are found abandoned and/or inoperable in a parking area continuously for more than 72 hours, after an appropriate warning, may be towed at the owner’s expense without any additional notice given.
   


2. Changes in lot designation, rules, etc.: These Parking Regulations may be changed from time to time as deemed necessary. Changes in lot designations are effective when the signs are changed. Such changes may be followed by a warning and notification period, during which flyers and warning tickets will be placed on improperly parked vehicles. Changes in parking rules and regulations sometimes may occur after the official Motor Vehicle and Parking Regulations booklet has been printed. Any such changes will be followed by a 30 day notification period during which time the changes will be posted online at http://www.finfacil.niu.edu/parking/. These changes will also be available in printed form at Campus Parking Services. Such changes will become effective 30 days after posting.
   


3. Disabled vehicles: Report disabled vehicle immediately. Call Campus Parking Services at 753-1045 between 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. On nights and weekends call the Department of Public Safety at 753-1212. The vehicle must be removed within 24 hours. Vehicles parked in reserved, handicapped, 15 minute, or service spaces, or that are otherwise in violation, are not exempt from immediate towing (Section H.2.). Tickets received after notification may be appealed.
   


4. Illinois Rules of the Road, etc. are to be obeyed: Operators of vehicles on university facilities are expected to comply with the “Rules of the Road” and all other appropriate provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code. (Illinois Compiled Statutes, 625 ILCS 5).
   


5. Legal parking: The responsibility for finding legal parking rests upon the vehicle operator. Convenience will not be a reason for violation of regulations. Vehicles must be parked within designated striped lines or within the width of the concrete bumper. Vehicles may not occupy more than one space. Parking is prohibited at all times on grass or tree plots, or any other place where parking would mar the landscaping of the campus, create a safety hazard, interfere with the use of university facilities, or obstruct traffic within a parking lot. There will be no parking in posted zones, yellow zones, fire hydrant zones, fire lanes, crosswalks, or sidewalks.
   


6. Loading/unloading: Vehicles parking in designated loading/unloading spaces must use the vehicle’s emergency flashers. The time limits posted on the signs are strictly enforced.
   


7. Motor homes, mobile trailers, campers, vans, and other such vehicles are not permitted for use in university parking facilities for the purpose of living in the vehicle.
   


8. Non-permitted vehicles: Individuals visiting, attending, or employed by NIU are responsible for parking violations incurred by non-permitted vehicles they are operating.
   


9. Reserved spaces: Designated by number or department name. These spaces are posted as a tow risk.
   


10. Service/maintenance spaces: Monitored as reserved spaces. These spaces are posted as a tow risk.
    


11. Speed limits: Posted speed limits must be observed at all times. The speed limit within all lots is 10 mph.
    


12. Trailers: Vehicles pulling a trailer must use Lot X or pay a penalty for improper parking.
    


13. University maintenance vehicles: Must park in spaces provided for such vehicles.