Parking/Vehicle Policies
Personal Vehicles on Campus
The College is not responsible for, nor will it pay any claims for, damages to student-owned vehicles resulting from falling ice, snow, tree limbs, or any other natural occurrence or event on its property or elsewhere, whether or not the possibility of such an event is warned against. The College is not responsible for, nor will it pay any losses, claims, or other damages, to student-owned vehicles resulting from vandalism, collision, or other acts by any person, other than damage caused directly by its employees. See the personal vehicle section of the Five Colleges Inc. website for more information. Reckless driving and driving on walkways, fields, and other areas of campus not intended for regular auto traffic is prohibited. Students reported for reckless driving will be referred to the office of student rights and responsibilities.
Registering Your Vehicle
In order for Campus Safety & Wellbeing to regulate and manage motor vehicles on campus students who want to bring, operate, or park a motor vehicle, motorcycle, or moped on the Hampshire College campus must do the following:
- Complete a motor vehicle registration form on The Hub. Do not use “N/A” or “none” on this form (incomplete forms will not be processed).
- Your parking placard will be mailed to your campus mailbox.
- Students who are non-residents of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts with vehicles not registered in Massachusetts must complete
the non-resident Driver Vehicle Statement Form in addition to the above. Print this form; you will need it when you pick up your
non-resident driver parking placard. Do not use “N/A” or “none” on this form (incomplete forms will not be processed).
Five College Students
Non–Hampshire College students enrolled in classes on our campus who are requesting a parking placard must complete a proof of registration form and bring it to the central records office on the first floor of the Lemelson Center for Design to obtain a signature. Bring this signed form, your student ID, and your vehicle registration to the parking office at the rear of the Dakin Student Life building to obtain a parking placard. These placards are free of charge. The Five College student placard is valid for any Hampshire College student parking lot.
For more information, please contact Campus Safety & Wellbeing at 413-559-5345 or email csw@hampshire.edu
Accessible Parking
Accessible parking is located throughout the Hampshire campus. A valid Hampshire parking placard is required in addition to a handicapped placard to utilize accessible parking in any lots requiring a decal. Any student in need of long-term or permanent accessible parking should visit their state’s motor vehicle department to learn about acquiring a placard for accessible parking. More information about applying in the state of Massachusetts can be found with the Registry of Motor Vehicles.
Students with ADA placards issued by the RMV can park in any accessible space in any parking lot on campus.
Temporary Accessible Parking
Students in need of temporary accessible parking due to an injury or other short-term, disability-related circumstance may request a temporary parking pass through the office of accessibility resources and services (OARS).
Vehicle Registration Requirements
Students are not allowed to have any unregistered vehicle(s) on campus. Student vehicles must be registered within ten (10) business days of arrival on campus. A valid driver’s license and a valid vehicle registration are required in order to receive a parking placard. Insurance must have your name on the policy. A student can have only one vehicle registered on campus at a time.
All student vehicles must be insured and registered with a state (MA or state of permanent residence, if different) to be kept on campus. MA registered vehicles must display a current inspection sticker to be considered registered. Vehicles registered out of state must comply with all requirements of that state and clearly display any required decals or placard.
Vehicles approved must be able to park completely within one standard size parking space. Large campers, trailers, or buses are not allowed. Students are not allowed to reside overnight in their vehicles.
Placard Fee
As of the 2024-2025 academic year, parking decals will be issued to students free of charge. Vehicles must be registered every academic year. Parking placards are good from September 1 - August 31 the year they are issued. The replacement placard fee is free. A vehicle is not considered registered until the parking placard is affixed to the vehicle according to the placard placement sheet you will receive when obtaining your placard. Vehicles not registered within 10 business days are subject to being ticketed and towed with warning at the owner’s expense. All parking issues should be directed to csw@hampshire.edu
Placard Returns
Parking placards are non transferable and must be affixed to the vehicle for which they are issued. When you change vehicles or license plates you will need a replacement placard. If you sell or dispose of your vehicle, you must first deactivate the previous placard and then register another vehicle on the hub.
Parking Lots and Usage
Student vehicles must be parked in the designated student parking lots identified by a parking sign that reads "student parking only." Student vehicles will be cited when parked in other parking lots/spaces. Each student lot has a section for faculty/staff and visitors. These are not student parking spaces. Only registered student vehicles can be parked in the student parking spaces. Students should not park in areas marked "snow removal."
Student vehicles may need to be moved at times throughout the year, for reasons including maintenance and snow removal. Clear instructions will be provided for moving these vehicles a minimum of one day in advance.
Vehicles must be in operable condition at all times while parked on campus. Students may not perform maintenance on vehicles owned by themselves or others when parked on campus property.
If a student must utilize a student parking space for some reason other than normal driving/parking/storage of said vehicle, it must first be approved through the Student Project Approval Process.
Parking Regulations
- The Maximum speed limit on Hampshire College campus is (17) miles per hour.
- Vehicles must stop and yield to pedestrian traffic and obey all traffic signs on campus.
- Do not park in faculty/Staff parking or spaces reserved for service vehicles.
- Do not park in handicapped spaces without displaying the proper placards.
- Do not block fire lanes, fire exits, or entrances to parking areas: do not park within (10) feet of a fire hydrant. All roadways and sidewalks must be
kept clear for fire apparatus and other emergency vehicles. - Do not block doorways, stairways, building entrances, curb cuts or sidewalks.
- Do not park on land not designed for vehicular traffic, such as walkways, lawns, and open fields.
- Do not park in Charging stations. Maximum charging is 3 hours. All vehicles exceeding the 3 hours will be subjected to being ticketed and towed
without warning at the owner's expense. - Do not park or block any bus stops.
- Do not park against or impede the flow of traffic.
- Do not double park.
- Do not park in a loading zone, obstructing a loading dock, or in front of waste/recycling containers.
- Do not park in front of any barricade erected temporarily or permanently to close a way to vehicular traffic.
- Do not park blocking the Hampshire College Facilities access roads on Bay Rd.
- Do not drive or park on walkways or grass areas. Access to these areas may be granted for move-in or move-out, but will be explicitly
communicated to students if applicable.
Vehicle residency is prohibited
No recreational vehicle, camper shell, bus, automotive or similar device shall be used for living or sleeping quarters on Hampshire College property.
Can’t Find a Space?
Contact Campus Safety & Wellbeing at 413.559.5424 if you cannot find a space in your designated lot. Do not park illegally.
Summer Parking
There is no summer parking available for students who are not housed or working on campus. Vehicles may not be stored on campus at any time. Vehicles displaying evidence of non-use will be ticketed and towed.
Winter parking is available for students; instructions for where to place your vehicle over the winter break will be provided with other winter break instructions. Student vehicles not moved to designated areas may be towed and/or plowed in.
Loss of Parking Privileges
Students who show a continual disregard for parking and/or driving regulations risk losing the privilege of having a vehicle on campus. The Division of Justice, Equity, and Antiracism (JEA), upon recommendation by campus safety & wellbeing staff, may make this decision.
Citations
Vehicles are ticketed when parked or driven contrary to the Norms for Community Living. Citations range from $20.00 to $100.00, depending on the violation. Fines are billed directly to a student’s account. Non-students, visitors and anyone with unregistered vehicles who have their vehicles ticketed should mail their payment to Hampshire College, Campus Safety & Wellbeing, 893 West St., Amherst, MA 01002. As of August 1, 2024, the vehicle citation schedule will operate as follows:
- First Citation: Written warning on car (if registered, an email will be sent to the owner)
- Second Citation: A ticket will be issued according to the College’s fee schedule (if registered, an email will be sent to the owner)
- Third Citation: The vehicle will be towed at the owner’s expense (if registered, Campus Safety & Wellbeing staff will attempt contact via phone
to the vehicle owner prior to the vehicle being towed)
Hampshire college is not responsible for damages to vehicles towed because of violations of these regulations.
Restricted Parking
Vehicles parked in restricted areas (e.g., fire lanes, bus stops, on grass, on walkways), unregistered vehicles, or vehicles that are parked in violation of parking regulations are subject to being towed without warning at the owner’s expense.
Appeals
Citations may be appealed by completing a parking appeal form on TheHub within five (5) business days from the time the citation was issued. Questions can be directed to the Campus Safety & Wellbeing office at any time.
Visitor/Guest Temporary Parking
All visitors and guests are required to provide Campus Safety & Wellbeing with the vehicle’s make, model, color, and license plate number to be issued a temporary parking permit. The permit must be visibly displayed in the vehicle. If you are visiting a student, the host student must be present (with a valid student ID) when applying for a temporary parking permit. There is no cost for a visitor temporary parking pass. To submit an application for a temporary parking permit, please submit the form linked here.
Parking business is conducted at the Campus Safety & Wellbeing office.
Campus Safety & Wellbeing administrative office is on the ground floor of the Dakin Student Life Center (accessible from the rear entrance). Contact 413.559.6151 or csw@hampshire.edu.
Family/Gym Members
Any member of the gym not affiliated with the college may receive a gym parking pass valid for 1 year from the date issued. The gym member must show their issued Hampshire College ID or Hampshire College gym membership to obtain the permit.
Disabled Vehicles
Improperly parked disabled motor vehicles must be reported to Campus Safety & Wellbeing at 413.559.5424 immediately, along with plans for their removal. Vehicle owners must have improperly parked disabled vehicles removed within (3) hours or will be subjected to towing. Campus Safety & Wellbeing reserves the right to tow a vehicle if it blocks fire access or is a safety concern.
Abandoned Motor Vehicles
Will be towed at owners expense in compliance with Massachusetts General Law. The towing and subsequent storage and or disposal cost are the responsibility of the vehicle owner. The owner of the vehicle may also suffer the penalties of law under MGL Chapter 90 section 22B. Vehicles may be towed at the Direction of the Assistant Director of Campus Safety & Wellbeing. Hampshire College accepts no liability for any vehicle abandoned on College property and vehicles that do not display valid registration plates and or parking decal may be considered abandoned.
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