Traffic and Parking Rules and Regulations

Issuance of Citations

Texas Education Code Section 51.201 declares that laws of Texas are in effect for Institutions of Higher Education and violations of state traffic laws may result in the issuance of citations to be adjudicated through municipal courts. Administrative citations can also be issued for traffic and parking violations.

Individuals who own or operate a vehicle or motorcycle on South Texas College property will be held liable for any citations issued to that vehicle or motorcycle with or without a permit.

Examples of citations that may be issued are as follows:

• No parking permit displayed.
• Expired parking permit displayed.
• Misuse of parking permit.
• Improper display of parking permit, including not permanently affixing the permit in the proper location and/or using glue or tape rather than the permit adhesive.
• Parking where prohibited by signs or markings (Fire Lane, Disabled Parking Space, Faculty/Staff, Visitor, Reserved, Loading/Unloading).
• Parking in visitor spaces, with or without a permit, while an employee or student at South Texas College.
• Parking in visitor spaces for longer than the allotted time.
• Parking where there is no designated parking space.
• Parking alongside islands and curbs marked “No Parking” or painted red.
• Dropping off persons or items in a “No Parking” or “No Dropping Off” area.
• Double-parked (encroaching on another parking space).
• Failure to come to a complete stop at a stop sign.
• Driving against traffic.
• Failure to obey roadway signs.
• Parking in a disabled parking space without properly displaying a valid disabled placard/license plate issued by the State of Texas. Disabled spaces are only to be used by those individuals whom the disabled placard/license plate was issued too.

Administrative Parking Citation Fees

• 1 ^st Citation: $30.00
• 2 ^nd Citation: $50.00
• 3 ^rd Citation: $80.00
• 4 ^th Citation: $100.00
• 5 ^th Citation: $220.00 (Includes a $100.00 wheel lock removal fee)

Moving Violation Fees*

• Warning: $0.00
• 1 ^st Citation: $30.00
• 2 ^nd Citation: $50.00
• 3 ^rd Citation: $90.00

Stated fees are for administrative parking citations issued by an STC security guard only

*If a citation for fire lane parking, handicap parking, or moving violations is issued by an STC Police Officer the fees will vary depending on the Municipal or Justice of the Peace courts in which the campus is located.

Wheel Locks

Wheel locks will be placed upon receiving the 5th citation for the same administrative parking violation.  All outstanding citations must be paid in full and a receipt of payment must be verified by the South Texas College Department of Public Safety before the wheel lock is removed.  If the wheel lock is attempted or successfully removed from the vehicle without the approval of the Department of Public Safety, the individual will be held responsible for any damage done to South Texas College property.

Wheel locks may be placed on vehicles for outstanding parking fines, security, or police matters.

The South Texas College Department of Public Safety is not responsible for any damage to vehicles.

Appeals of Administrative Citations

The South Texas College Department of Public Safety provides an independent Traffic and Parking Citation Appeals Committee for administrative citations that includes faculty and staff who are not employees of the Department of Public Safety. Appeals of administrative citations must be submitted through the STC parking portal within 15 days from the date of the citation. Appeals are not allowed after 15 days.

If a citation is issued by an STC police officer you may not appeal the citation through the STC parking portal.  All citations issued by STC police officers will be referred to the Municipal or Justice of the Peace Courts in which the campus is located.

An individual that has received a citation(s) is eligible to take a one-time parking assessment to waive or reduce parking fines. This does not apply once a wheel lock fine has been issued, or to fire lane and disabled parking violations. A score of 70% or more will result in the adjustment of the fine(s). If the individual fails the examination, they are unable to retake the examination and it is noted on their parking account. The examination is offered as a one-time solution per school year and is conducted online.

Incident or Accident

If you are involved in an incident or accident on South Texas College property that requires emergency assistance, call 911 immediately. For other assistance, contact the STC Department of Public Safety at 956-872-4444.