Parking Rules and Regulations

This parking information is intended for students, faculty, staff, and visitors to Penn State Behrend. 

If you have questions, contact Parking Services at 814-898-7275.

General Provisions 

Penn State Behrend’s traffic and parking regulations are designed to accomplish three objectives:

• To provide for the efficient use of parking space and the orderly flow of traffic.
• To protect the safety and security of persons and property.
• To ensure consistent and fair representation of the needs of the entire campus community.

All provisions of the Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania must be enforced. Provisions of these regulations are always in effect, unless otherwise announced.

All vehicles are subject to these regulations. The operator is responsible for knowing the regulations and for informing others who operate vehicles on campus on his or her behalf. Any parking violations, regardless of who is driving, shall be the responsibility of the registrant.

Students (whether they reside on or off campus), faculty, and staff members must register their vehicles with Penn State Behrend Parking Services if their vehicles will be parked on campus at any time. Visitors to campus are required to obtain a visitor pass prior to parking their vehicles on campus. HONK mobile parking payment for visitors will be implemented later in fall 2026.

Only one motor vehicle can be used on campus in conjunction with the parking permit at any given time.

[BACK TO TOP]

Regulations 

Traffic and parking regulations are enforced 24 hours a day.

[BACK TO TOP]

Authority 

100

The Pennsylvania Administrative Code, Section 2416 (a), allows Penn State Behrend to have campus police officers who may possess and exercise all the powers of a police officer in this Commonwealth in and upon the property of the college.

101

Section 6113 (b) of the Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania permits Penn State Behrend to control public travel in and upon its property with traffic-control devices.

102

Section 6109 of the Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provides for the officials of a university or college to establish rules and regulations concerning traffic control and parking.

103

As indicated in Section 6109 (b) the officials of a university or college can appoint someone to review all requests for traffic-control devices and then adopt appropriate ordinances for the required traffic-control devices.

104

General traffic regulations can be approved by the officials of a university or college for the posting of specific traffic control devices.

105

Jurisdiction for enforcing all parking violations, parking permits, payment of fines, and traffic committee business shall be under the direction of the Penn State Behrend representative for Auxiliary and Business Services.

106

Appeals of parking violations shall be under the jurisdiction of the appropriate Student or Faculty/Staff Appeals Board.

107

An appointed Traffic Committee shall review the rules and regulations and existing conditions and make recommendations to Penn State Behrend concerning general traffic ordinances.

[BACK TO TOP]

Definitions 

Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent provisions of these rules and regulations, the words and phrases below shall be defined as follows:

Affiliate

Any person who has been issued a Penn State Affiliate ID card.

Authorized Vehicle

Any vehicle designated as such in the Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Any vehicle designated as such by the Traffic Committee.

Commuter Parking Lots

Those parking areas that are restricted for use by commuter students, faculty, and staff vehicles during reserved time spans.

Commuter Students

All persons enrolled in formal or informal instructional programs of the University who do not reside on campus.

Emergency Vehicle

Any vehicle designated as such by the Vehicle Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Faculty and Staff

All persons who are not students and are employed full-time or part-time at Penn State Behrend.

Park or Parking

When permitted, the temporary storing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, off the roadway.

When prohibited, the halting of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, except momentarily for the purpose of and while engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers.

Parking Space

An area designated by white lines on an improved surface for the parking of one vehicle.

Pedestrians

Persons afoot or persons using wheelchairs. 

Permit

An instrument issued by Parking Services to verify that the operator of a vehicle has registered the vehicle and has paid the fee for parking.

Resident Parking Lots

Those parking areas that are restricted for use by resident students, faculty, and staff vehicles during reserved time spans. See Section 701 for lot restrictions.

Resident Students

All persons enrolled in formal or informal instructional programs of the University who reside on campus.

Roadway

The entire width between the boundary lines of every way maintained when any part thereof is open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel.

Sidewalk

Improved areas designed specifically for pedestrian traffic.

Staff Parking Lot

Parking areas that are restricted for use by faculty and staff member vehicles during reserved time spans.

Suspension

To withdraw registration privileges temporarily by formal action of the University.

Vehicle

Shall include automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, motorbikes, motor scooters, and any other motor-driven vehicle. A skateboard is not considered a vehicle by this definition.

Visitor

Any person on the grounds of Penn State Behrend who is not a Behrend student, faculty member, staff member, or affiliate of the campus.

Walkway

Those areas specifically designated for pedestrian traffic only.

[BACK TO TOP]

Registration of Vehicles 

300 Registration of Vehicles

All motor vehicles possessed, maintained, or operated at Penn State Behrend by any student, faculty, or staff member shall be registered with Parking Services. All registered vehicles shall bear a parking permit indicating the areas in which the vehicle may be parked (i.e., commuter, resident, faculty/staff lots).

Parking permits cannot be sold or loaned to another person.

Student semester parking permits must be obtained by registering online. The parking permit web page can be accessed through the Parking Services web page. Your parking fee can be paid by credit/debit card online. Parking permits are now virtual.

Students shall register their vehicles for the semester no later than one week after the start of classes.

Any person who receives a parking ticket for not registering their vehicle and appears at the Parking Services office within ten (10) days of the violation shall have the parking ticket reduced if they:

• Immediately register their vehicle
• Have only one parking ticket for non-registration

Faculty and staff members shall register their vehicle within two weeks of the first day of their employment.

Any person who has been issued a parking permit and changes his or her license plate number or name shall report such changes to Parking Services within ten days of the change.

A provisional parking permit may be issued to students, faculty, and staff who have suffered a temporary physical injury. A doctor’s excuse stating the need for this permit is required prior to issuance. The provisional parking permit allows the driver to park in commuter and resident student parking lots and the lower Reed Lot. This provisional permit does NOT allow the driver to park in any handicapped-accessible parking space or in spaces marked as tow-away zones, nor to violate any University parking regulations. This permit will expire three (3) weeks from the date of issue. Should the injury require additional time to heal, it is the driver’s responsibility to obtain a temporary Persons with Disability parking permit from PennDOT. The provisional parking permit may not be renewed. All students, faculty, and staff requesting a provisional permit must possess a valid Penn State Behrend parking permit.

301 Permits

Permits are now virtual. No physical tag needs to be displayed.

Temporary permits are not transferable from one vehicle to another.

Faculty/staff permits are determined by the employment status of the faculty or staff member.

Permits may be transferred to another motor vehicle being used by the registered student or faculty/staff member. Transfering permits is the responsibility of the permit holder.

Student Evening Permits: Commuter students may purchase semester evening parking permits that are valid from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. These permits are valid only in parking lots designated for commuter student parking.

Temporary Permits: Students and faculty/staff are issued temporary permits. Each numbered permit shall designate the expiration date and the area where the vehicle shall be parked. These permits are sold online.

Visitor Permits: Visitors are required to register their vehicle for a permit. HONK mobile parking payment for visitors will be implemented later in fall 2026.

302 Costs

The cost of student permits may be obtained online on the Parking Services web page or by contacting Parking Services.

Faculty and Staff Permits: The cost is payroll deducted. Contact Parking Services for the current price structure.

Purpose: The above provisions have been enacted to ensure that each motor vehicle at Penn State Behrend has a current parking permit. In cases where multiple vehicles are covered under one registration, only one vehicle may be present on campus at any given time.

303 State Registration, Insurance, and Operator License

All motor vehicles on Penn State Behrend property shall be properly registered with the appropriate state.

Expiration, revocation, or suspension of state registration, operator’s license, or insurance automatically invalidates the Penn State Behrend motor vehicle registration.

304 Liability

The Pennsylvania State University assumes no responsibility or liability for loss or damage to any motor vehicle parked on Penn State Behrend property.

305 Civil Contract

All students, faculty, and staff of Penn State Behrend who register their motor vehicles are signifying their agreement with The Pennsylvania State University’s civil contract policy.

This contract allows holds to be placed on student LionPATH accounts for unpaid parking violations. This contract also permits unpaid penalties for parking violations to be deducted from faculty/staff members' pay in the amount of the appropriate fine plus a $3.00 processing late fee.

This civil contract does not prevent a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania traffic citation from being issued.

306 Refunds

Student refunds for parking permits shall be granted on a prorated basis. 

The amount of the refund is determined by the price paid for the parking permit. The refund price may be obtained by contacting Parking Services during normal business hours.

Student must notify Parking Services to receive a refund.

No refunds will be issued on temporary permits.

[BACK TO TOP]

Towing 

400 Towing

The University reserves the right to tow any illegally parked vehicle at the risk and expense of the owner.

401 Pennsylvania State Law

Section 3353 (c) of the Vehicle Code states, in part, “Property owner may remove vehicle. The owner or other person in charge of possession of any property on which a vehicle is parked or left unattended in violation of the provisions of subsection (b) may remove or have removed the vehicle at the reasonable expense of the owner of the vehicle. Such person who removes a vehicle left parked or unattended in violation of the provisions of subsection (b) shall have a lien against the owner of the vehicle.”

402 Procedure

Any vehicle parked or left unattended in a manner that constitutes a traffic and/or safety hazard, is parked on or is blocking a sidewalk, is parked in a space that is reserved on a twenty-four-hour basis, whose parking permit is suspended, or is parked in any location where notice is given, shall be towed immediately, without prior notice to the owner.

Except as previously noted, before a vehicle is towed, a reasonable attempt (including signs, verbal, or written notices) shall be made to contact the owner.

If the owner or operator of a vehicle cannot be contacted, the vehicle will be removed by the University at the owner’s expense.

If a vehicle is towed, a reasonable attempt will be made to contact the owner or person having control of the vehicle by email or telephone within twenty-four hours of the towing if they have not been in contact with the towing service provider.

Towing charges shall be those set forth by the towing agent, and the owner shall be responsible for the towing charges.

403 Disabled Vehicles

As a courtesy to other members of the community, drivers whose vehicles are inoperable shall immediately notify Parking Services as well as University Police and Public Safety.

404 Suspended Vehicles

When parked on campus, owners who have had their parking permits suspended will have their vehicles towed without prior notice.

[BACK TO TOP]

Violations 

500 Parking Violations

1. Unregistered Vehicle
   Any student, faculty, or staff member who is found to possess, maintain, or operate a vehicle that is required by these regulations to be registered while on the grounds of Penn State Behrend, and who has failed to register the vehicle with the proper authority, commits a violation of these regulations.
2. Encroachment
   1. No person shall park any motor vehicle (except those emergency or authorized vehicles in the performance of their duties) upon any area designated as a sidewalk or walkway. 
   2. No person shall park a vehicle on the roadway or along the roadway anywhere on the property of Penn State Behrend unless authorized signs permitting parking in a specific area are in place. 
   3. All vehicles that are parked in an approved parking lot that is marked with spaces shall be parked in such a manner that no part of the vehicle extends over the lines designating the space. 
   4. No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any trails, access roads, or in any area not designated for public travel or in any area posted “for emergency or authorized vehicles only.”
3. No-Parking Area
   No person shall park a vehicle in any place at Penn State Behrend other than in approved parking spaces in parking lots. This section prohibits parking on grass, parking too close to another vehicle, parking within fifteen feet of fire hydrants, blocking a parked vehicle, blocking an access road, or parking in any place not specifically designated for parking.
4. Parking in Loading Zone
   Parking shall be permitted in areas that are designated as loading areas, provided that the vehicle is in the act of either being loaded or unloaded.
5. Parking in Reserved Space
   No person shall park a vehicle in any area designated by sign or regulation to be reserved unless that area is reserved specifically for their use. Vehicles found in violation of this section are subject to being towed.
6. Revoked Parking Privileges
   If a vehicle is on campus property while revoked, this violation will be issued.
7. Parking in Restricted Area
   No person shall park a vehicle in any area designated by sign or regulation to be restricted unless that area is restricted specifically for their use.
8. Permit Improperly Displayed
   Any person who has a valid permit shall display the permit on his or her vehicle as described by these rules and regulations.
9. ADA-Accessible Space
   No person shall park a vehicle in any parking space at Penn State Behrend that is posted or marked as an ADA-accessible space unless they displays a Persons with Disability plate or placard issued by PennDOT, and the vehicle is being operated by or for the transportation of a handicapped person.
10. Exceeded space time-limit
    No person shall park a vehicle in a parking space designated by signs as a limited-time parking space for more than the time allotted. Some of these spots require flashers to be on.
11. Using a Shared Parking Permit
    Anyone who uses a parking permit that has been issued to another person may be in violation of these regulations.
12. Fraudulent/Unauthorized Use of Parking Permit
    Anyone who manufactures, alters, or possesses an unauthorized parking permit shall be in violation of these regulations.
13. Failure to Pay
14. Head-in Parking Only
15. Parking in Fire Lane
16. Permit Not Linked to Plate

501 Habitual Offenders

Any student, faculty, or staff member who receives three parking tickets within one semester shall be advised in writing of the Policy on Suspension of Parking Privileges.

502 Suspension of Parking Privileges

Any student, faculty, or staff member who receives five parking tickets within one semester shall have his or her parking privileges suspended for a period of one week.

• Any person who parks a vehicle at Penn State Behrend during his or her suspension period shall be issued a parking ticket for suspended parking privileges, and the vehicle will be towed at the owner’s expense.
• A $25.00 restoration fee will be charged to register vehicles following suspension of a permit.
• Any subsequent parking violation within the same semester of a suspension shall result in an additional suspension of one week.

503 Serious Violations

Violations of a serious nature shall result in the suspension of parking privileges and, in addition, may result in the issuance of a Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Traffic Citation or Summons.

504 Continuing Violation

More than one parking ticket/citation may be written for the same offense if the vehicle remains parked in violation for more than twenty-four hours. Exception to this rule is time-limit spots. More than one parking ticket/citation may be written for the same offense if the vehicle remains parked in violation of time-limit parking spaces for more than eight hours.

505 Moving Violations

All moving violations shall be charged under the appropriate section of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code. 

506 Miscellaneous

Motorcycles, motor bikes, and motor scooters shall be parked in specially designated areas.

Penn State Behrend has established special parking areas for visitors. Regulations regarding visitor parking are online. If you have visitors, please make certain they are aware of the parking regulations before they arrive. All visitors must also obtain a visitor parking permit. HONK mobile parking payment for visitors will be implemented later in fall 2026.

A vehicle owned or operated by a student who is not also an employee, but is married to an employee, or is the child of an employee, shall be considered a “Student Vehicle.”

All traffic accidents occurring on campus shall be reported to Behrend's University Police and Public Safety.

In case of an emergency, the emergency flashers or headlamps of the vehicle must be activated.

EV charging stations are open to anyone with an electric vehicle that has a Charge Point Account. There are four stations in the Prischak Lot and two stations in the Upper Parking Deck. The stations are only to be used when your vehicle is charging. Vehicles that are left after being fully charged will pay a premium hourly rate until the cars are moved.

[BACK TO TOP]

Enforcement and Appeals 

600 Exclusions

Emergency, maintenance, and delivery vehicles directly engaged in the performance of their assigned duties are excluded from parking regulations. However, vehicles shall not be operated or parked in any manner that constitutes a safety hazard.

601 Visitors 

Visitors are requested to park in the appropriate lots as indicated under Section 701.

All visitors must also obtain a visitor parking permit. HONK mobile parking payment for visitors will be implemented later in fall 2026.

602 Payment

Credit or debit card payments may be made online through Parking Services. LionCash payments are only accepted in person at the Parking Services office.

• If the fine is not paid within ten days, there will be an additional $3.00 late fee attached. A hold will be placed on the student's LionPATH account for unpaid parking violations.
• All unpaid tickets for faculty/staff will be deducted from payroll.

603 Appeals

All appeals must be made within seven days of the date of issuance. Appeals must be filed online. Full payment of your parking ticket is required first. All appeal decisions are final. If the appeal is decided in your favor, you will receive a refund. You will be notified of the Appeals Committee decision by email.

• Student appeals will be forwarded to the Student Appeals Board.
• Faculty/Staff appeals will be forwarded to the Faculty/Staff Appeals Board.

604 Disposition of Fines

All monies collected for violations of these rules and regulations are given to the Student Government Association.

605 Prima Facie

The registration information shall be prima facie evidence against the registered owner of the vehicle in question.

606 Pennsylvania Vehicle Code and Crimes Code

Nothing in these regulations shall preclude the filing of charges under the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Vehicle Code or Crimes Code.

[BACK TO TOP]

Parking Lots 

700 Parking Lots

There are twenty-eight parking lots on campus to which the following restrictions apply:

• Reserved parking spaces, including parking spaces reserved for people with disabilities, and all posted parking signs must be obeyed at all times.
• While Penn State Behrend does not guarantee the registrant a parking space, all attempts are made to meet the parking demand. Due to circumstances beyond the control of Penn State Behrend, there may be times when parking is difficult to locate. Under such circumstances, contact Parking Services for assistance.
• Penn State Behrend reserves the right to open or restrict parking for special purposes at any time.

701 Lot Designation

[BACK TO TOP]

Fines 

801 Schedule of fines

Anyone found to be in violation of any section of Article V dealing with violations of these regulations shall be charged the amount listed below.

[BACK TO TOP]