Campus Safety

Parking and Traffic Services

Hamilton College is a pedestrian campus, but allows members of the community to use motor vehicles as they travel to and from College Hill. To ensure public safety, all members of this community and guests are expected to familiarize themselves with the policies outlined in this webpage and must comply with them at all times.

Please note that the regulations outlined in this guidebook are expected to be followed year-round.

Vehicle Registration

All vehicles parked on the Hamilton College campus must be registered with the Department of Campus Safety on a permanent or temporary basis.

College employees and contract service providers may register their vehicles free of charge. Sophomore, junior, and senior students may also register one vehicle and will be charged $100 per academic year, or $50 per semester. Temporary permits will be issued to all other persons at a per diem rate of $1. First year students may not have vehicles on campus, and violation of this policy can result in loss of parking privileges in the sophomore year.

Students are not permitted to regularly use vehicles registered to Hamilton employees without registering them as student vehicles and paying the appropriate fee.

Unregistered vehicles are subject to a $75 parking citation. If the vehicle's owner completes the registration process within 48 hours of the citation, the fine will be waived. Registered vehicles that do not have their parking permits properly displayed are subject to a $25 citation.

Temporary and permanent parking permits are available in the Campus Safety office. All members of the community are expected to register their vehicles in a timely manner, according to the procedures established by the Department of Campus Safety.

Parking Permits

Each student who registers a vehicle will be assigned a parking permit which will allow him/her to park in any student lot, with the exception of Griffin Road Apartments (overnight parking at Griffin Road is limited to students who live there). Faculty and Staff parking lots are closed to student parking at all times including nights and weekends.

Student vehicles that are parked in a Faculty/Staff parking lots are subject to a $25 citation. Faculty/Staff vehicles that are parked in student parking lots are also subject to a $25 citation.

Students, faculty, and staff members are expected to check all appropriate lots for openings. If no spaces are available they are directed to contact the Department of Campus Safety to request instructions.

STUDENT LOTS		FACULTY/STAFF LOTS
New Lot		Elihu Root House Lot
Root Extension Lot		Anderson - Connell Alumni Center
Bundy Circle		Pub Lot (not visitor area)
Root Lot		KJ Lot
Skenandoa Lot		Molly Root
Rogers Estate Lot		Dunham Lot
Ferguson Lot		Bristol Center
Griffin Road Apartments		Ferguson Lot Faculty/Staff (First Row)
North Lot		Philip Spencer House
Major/Minor/Mac Lot		Field House Lot

Fire Lanes

All campus roadways are considered fire lanes, though they have no markings. These areas include all quadrangles and traffic circles, as well as driveways leading to and from parking lots.

Vehicles parked in fire lanes are subject to a $50 citation.

Parking for people with disabilities

Hamilton College honors any state -issued parking permit for people with disabilities. Please refer to the information below, provided by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. to obtain a parking permit in New York State.

To get complete information about reserved parking for people with disabilities, read the DMV brochure, Parking for People With Disabilities.

Who is eligible for vehicle plates for disabled persons or a parking permit for disabled persons?

The NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law defines the permanent disabilities that qualify. If you have a permanent disability that qualifies, you can get vehicle plates for reserved parking from the DMV or a parking permit from your local government. It is illegal to park in a parking space reserved for persons with disabilities if you do not have the correct vehicle plates or parking permit. You can use the vehicle plates or parking permit in New York State and in most other states.

How do I get a parking permit for disabled persons?

You and your healthcare provider can complete the application form MV-664.1. You also can have your healthcare provider (MD, DO, DPM, or NP) complete a statement on their letterhead. The statement must describe the disabling condition and verify that the disability qualifies according to the law. Bring the form or statement to the issuing agency in your locality (normally the office of your city clerk, town clerk or village clerk). There is no fee for a permit. Remember that the DMV does not issue the parking permits.

Vehicles parked in a parking space reserved for persons with disabilties and not displaying a valid state-issued permit are subject to be ticketed and/or towed.

Mail Center

All parking spaces near the Beinecke Student Activities Village and the Hamilton Mail Center are limited to five minutes. Vehicles parked in excess of five minutes are subject to a $25 citatation.

Loading Docks and Dumpsters

Dumpster and loading dock areas are used by College personnel on a daily basis. Vehicles that impede to access these areas are subject to a $50 citation.

No Parking Zones

Motorists may not park their vehicles in posted "no parking" zones at any time. Vehicles parked in these areas are subject to a $25 citation.

Two-Space Parking

Vehicles must be parked between painted parking space lines. Vehicles occupying more than one space are subject to a $25 citation.

Grass

Paved and gravel surfaces are designed to support a vehicle's weight, but landscaped areas can be seriously damaged by vehicles that drive or park on them. Vehicles that drive or park on grass, mud, or dirt are subject to a $50 citation. Vehicles that are parked partly on pavement and partly on grass are also subject to a $50 citation.

Driveways and Sidewalks

Driveways are not intended for vehicle use, even when chains are down and the driveways open; parking or driving on sidewalks is also prohibited. Vehicles that violate either of these regulations are subject to a $50 citation.

Emergency Snow Removal

During periods of inclement weather, the Physical Plant may need to relocate vehicles from College parking lots so that snow can be removed. The community will be notified of the snow removal schedule by electronic mail and traditional postings. Vehicles that are not removed from their lots by the specified time are subject to a $50 citation and will be towed at the owner's expense.

Prohibited Vehicles and Motorcycles

Mopeds, scooters, and other motorized bicycles cannot be stored in College buildings or parking lots. The use of motorcycles is permitted, but compliance with all parking and traffic regulations is expected and in accordance with New York State law riders are required to wear DOT approved helmets.

Traffic Violations

The Department of Campus Safety expects all motorists to comply with posted traffic signs. Vehicles that pass stop signs or violate one way policies on campus roadways are subject to a $50 citation.

Motorists should be aware that College Hill Road, Campus Road, and Griffin Road are all in the jurisdiction of Oneida County and the Town of Kirkland. All local parking, speed, and driving laws are aggressively enforced by the Kirkland Police Department.

Speed Limit

The on-campus speed limit is 15 miles per hour.

Vehicles that violate the on campus speed limit are subject to a $50 citation.

Temporary Exceptions

Campus Safety will give members of the community temporary permission to park in restricted areas to load or unload their vehicles or for other extenuating reasons. With permission from the Department of Campus Safety, a vehicle may park for a maximum of twenty minutes.

Additional Sanctions

Any member of the Hamilton community (student or employee) who accumulates more than five parking tickets in one academic year will incur additional parking-related sanctions.

Campus Safety officers will be authorized to have any illegally parked vehicle towed if it has received five or more citations. After a vehicle receives ten citations, the vehicle's owner will lose parking privileges for the rest of the academic year. The owner's parking permit will be revoked, and the owner will be required to remove the vehicle from campus within two weeks. If the vehicle is found anywhere on campus after two weeks, it will be towed at the owners expense.

NOTE: Any vehicle removed from campus will be towed at the owner's expense. In the event that a tow truck is not available at the time of violation, the vehicle may be assessed a College Towing Fee equal to the cost to remove the vehicle from campus.

Special Circumstances and Appeals

On rare occasions, exceptions are made to College parking policies. All requests for exceptions must be submitted, in writing, to the Hamilton College Parking Appeals Board. More information is available in the Campus Safety office.

Vehicle registrants may also appeal parking citations by completing an appeal form and submitting it to the Parking Appeals Board. These forms are available in the Campus Safety office. Appeals must be submitted within five days of the citation and the petitioner's parking history will be considered when decisions are made.

All Parking Appeals Board decisions are final. Parking fines are not billed until all appeal procedures have been exhausted and citations that are successfully appealed do not count towards the excessive ticket totals.

Vehicle owners should be aware of the following before they file an appeal:

Appeals for fire lane and handicap area citations are not usually approved.
The use of hazard lights (or "flashers") does not excuse illegal parking.
Vehicles that park illegally for an extended time can receive multiple citations.
Ignorance of published parking regulations does not excuse violations.

The Parking Appeals Board consists of one member from each of the upper three classes, one staff member, and one faculty member or administrator appointed annually by the Assistant Director of Campus Safety.

Liability

Hamilton College assumes no liability for loss or damage to any vehicles parked on College property, or personal property left within, on, or around such vehicles. The College assumes no liability for vehicles that are towed by local agencies.