Parking Regulations

The Texas A&M Health Science Center security and parking officer's duties include but are not limited to:

• Facilities security
• Providing escort to vehicles
• Communications support
• Providing assistance for special events
• Enforcing parking rules and procedures

The Texas Education Code Sec. 51.202 provides the Texas A&M Health Science Center with the authority to regulate parking and vehicle operations on the campus. The Texas A&M Health Science Center reserves the right to enforce parking and traffic procedures by:

• Issuing Texas A&M Health Science Center citations and collecting applicable fees/penalties.
• Towing vehicles that interfere with movement of traffic or block a sidewalk, ramp, loading dock, entrance, exit, fire lane or aisle.
• Suspending or revoking permits.
• Barring the readmission and withholding grades, degrees, refunds and official transcript of any student for non-payment of outstanding charges.
• Enforcing disciplinary action against employees or students who fail to abide by these procedures.
• Denying parking permits to those with unpaid charges.
• Towing vehicles at the owner's expense due to one of the following conditions:
  • Parking in a 24 HR Reserved Numbered Space (at space owner's request)
  • Outstanding citation total of two or more
  • Outstanding balance of $100 or more
  • Outstanding citation over 90 days old
  • Obstructing a roadway or interfering with the movement of vehicular or pedestrian traffic
  • Blocking a sidewalk, ramp, loading dock, entrance, exit, fire lane or aisle

A parking permit is required at all times to park on Texas A&M University Health Science Center campuses. Texas A&M Health Science Center parking permits must be hung from the rear-view mirror. If a vehicle does not have a rear-view mirror that fits the design of the tag, it is to be placed in a sleeve and attached inside the passenger side windshield. These sleeves are available upon request. Motorcycles may park only in designated areas. Parking permits must be purchased from the Texas A&M Health Science Center parking website.

Faculty and staff who work on the Texas A&M University campus must purchase a permit from Texas A&M Transportation Services. These employees must display a valid Texas A&M University permit park on the Texas A&M Health Science Center campuses.

Texas A&M University Visitor Permits

Current Texas A&M University visitor permits are valid on Texas A&M Health Science Center campuses. If you need to park in a specific area of Texas A&M University, purchase the temporary permit from Texas A&M Transportation Services. These will be valid in "Any Valid Permit" lots marked on the parking map.

Texas A&M University Business and Campus permits

The Texas A&M University business permit is no longer available to Texas A&M Health Science Center personnel. Departments must purchase Texas A&M campus permits from Texas A&M Transportation Services and check permits out to employees on an as-needed basis. These permits are not available for individual purchase. See the parking map for valid areas.

Texas A&M University Night Permits

Texas A&M University night permits are valid between the hours of 5 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Reserved Numbered Spaces (RNS) are available only to Texas A&M Health Science Center faculty and staff at a higher cost. Enforcement of RNS violations will be only at the direction of the space holder. Violators may be ticketed and/or towed at the violator's expense at the direction of the space holder. Vehicles parked in a RNS are required to display a valid parking permit at all times with the exception of state vehicles.

Reserved Numbered spaces are limited. To apply for a Reserved Numbered Space, customers must apply to a waitlist by logging in to the parking system and selecting the "Permit Waitlist" option.

All Veterans with Disabilities, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients, Former Prisoners of War, Pearl Harbor Survivors, and Purple Heart Recipients whose vehicles display the special license plates issued by the Texas Department of Transportation are exempt from the payment of fees for any university parking permit for which they are otherwise eligible. All members of the Texas A&M Health Science Center who wish to bring a vehicle on campus are required to obtain a parking permit (limited to one free Health Science Center permit per customer). Contact Texas A&M Health Science Center Parking Services for required documentation.

Parking Assignments

• Students and part-time faculty do not have reserved individual spaces in garages.
• Parking assignments are made based on date-of-hire and taken in sequential order as spaces become available.
• Depending on the campus, new hires (faculty and staff) could experience a waiting period for assigned parking.
• New employees are expected to have purchased a proper permit by their second day of employment. Display receipt on vehicle dashboard until permit arrives in the mail.
• The parking manager makes all parking space assignments.

Visitor Parking

• Visitor parking is for visitors to the Texas A&M Health Science Center campus. These spaces are not to be used for short-term parking.
• Visitor parking is valid for 60 minutes or up to two hours with prior approval. Parking over two hours will require a daily temporary permit and parking in general parking.

Special vehicles

• Vehicles towing trailers must be pre-approved before parking on any campus.
• Recreational Vehicles (RVs) must be pre-approved before parking on any campus.
• Bicycles are not allowed in buildings; bicycle racks are provided on each campus.

Other Parking lot rules:

• Handicapped parking permits are required in all areas designated by the handicap signage.
• Posted signs, whether permanent or temporary must be obeyed at all times and take precedence over painted curbs and pavement markings.
• On occasion during the year, certain parking lots may be closed upon recommendation of the parking manager and approval by administration.
• The speed limit on campus roadways is posted at 20 mph.
• Pedestrians must obey all traffic control devices and signs. Pedestrians have the right-of-way at marked crosswalks, at intersections or sidewalks. Pedestrians shall yield right-of-way to vehicles when crossing at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or at an intersection. No person shall stand in roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride.

Citations

Parking violations are $40 with the exception of handicapped spaces, fire lane violations, property damage or displaying a forged, altered, lost or stolen permit, which are higher. Vehicles parked illegally in a handicapped space, fire lane or with a forged, altered, lost or stolen permit are subject to towing at the owner's expense. Criminal charges may also be filed on those displaying a forged, altered or stolen permit. Citations paid within 14 days will be lowered by $10 per citation. All fines not paid within 30 days will be assessed a $15.00 fee. After 180 days, a $30.00 fee will be added. For example:

$40.00 for parking violation
After 30 days $40.00 fine + $15.00 late fee = $55.00
After 180 days $55.00 fine + $30.00 late fee = $85.00

• First Citation for 'No Valid Permit', when appealed, will be reduced to a warning if a valid permit was owned at the time of the citation. Subsequent citations for "No Valid Permit", when appealed, will be cited as 'Failure to Display a Valid Permit' and cannot be appealed.
• Vehicles with two or more outstanding citations, an account balance of $100 or more or a citation of over 90 days old are subject to towing at the owner's expense, even if legally parked. If towed, the vehicle will be impounded until the balance is paid in full.
• Students who have an outstanding balance may have a block placed on their record until the balance is paid.
• This block will impact graduation, registration, receipt of grades and receipt of transcripts.
• Citation fines will escalate at 30 days ($15) and at 180 days ($30) making a $40 citation cost $85 if left unpaid.

Fees

• All people parking on Texas A&M Health Science Center property are required to pay established fees.
• All people parking on Texas A&M Health Science Center property who violate rules or do not pay established fees are subject to citation, fine, towing or loss of parking privileges.

Citation appeals

If a vehicle becomes inoperable while on the Texas A&M Health Science Center campus, the driver must notify Texas A&M Health Science Center Security & Parking. Officers will render assistance or authorize temporary parking. Temporary parking shall not exceed 24 hours without receiving further authorization. The vehicle must be parked so that it does not create an obstruction or hazard.

Permit Responsibility

The individual who obtains a parking permit will be responsible for parking violations by any vehicle bearing the permit. Permits may not be resold or transferred between individuals.

Vehicle security

You are responsible for the security of your vehicle. If you leave your vehicle unattended and unlocked for any reason, you are inviting trouble. On average, it takes less than 60 seconds for someone to enter an unlocked vehicle and take something. Typical targets are purses, wallets, books, instruments and tools. Anything that might be of value to someone else can be a target of theft and should be placed out of sight or hidden.

What can you do to help?

• Always close windows, lock your car and pocket the key; never leave an ID tag on your key ring.
• If you have to leave a key with a parking attendant, leave only the vehicle key.
• Mark your items with name, driver license number or other personal identifier.
• Record serial numbers for valuables.
• Use locks on drawers and lockers.
• Don't leave valuables unattended.
• Develop a network of friends to look out for each other's property (your own crime watch group).
• Keep everything of value out of sight or in your vehicle trunk.
• Don't leave important papers or credit cards in the glove compartment.
• Engrave cellphones, CD players or stereo equipment with your driver's license number. Mount securely or store out of sight.
• Be proactive.

The Texas A&M Health Science Center does not assume any liability for loss caused by damage, fire, theft or any other peril.

If your car, truck, or bike is stolen or tampered with, report it to Texas A&M Health Science Center security or the local police department immediately. Quick action can help recover your vehicle.