Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a temporary handicap placard or medical permit to park while I am injured or recovering from illness?

Our recommendation depends a lot on the length of time you will need to park closer to your buildings. If it is just for a week or two, then a medical permit is a good choice. You need our form for your doctor to fill out, and it costs $10/week. If your need is more long-term, a handicap placard is cheaper, and offers you more choices: A handicap placard together with any KU parking permit is valid in any color zone, except reserved and service vehicle only stalls, and the handicap placard gives you access to all the handicap stalls, as well.

Where can I park if I have only a handicap placard?

If you have a state-issued handicap placard or license plate, you may park in any marked handicap parking space or at any parking meter without paying the meter. You'll get a ticket in any other parking space.

Where can I park if I have a parking permit and a handicap placard?

If you have any valid KU parking permit and a state-issued handicap placard or license plate, you may park in any regular parking space on campus, in addition to the handicap and meter spaces. This does not include the reserved and

Why do I need to register my handicap placard?

Unfortunately, in the past, we had a lot of folks who abused the system. They "borrowed" someone's placard, or altered their own, so that it would appear to be valid. This proposal was made by the Architectural Barriers Committee, and has helped to make the accessible spaces more available to those who need to use them.

Do I have to pay a ticket when I appeal it?

No, you do not have to pay the ticket when you appeal it. The ticket is not considered to be outstanding while it is on appeal. You will only have to pay the ticket if the court denies your appeal, and it will say that in the letter you get.

What happens after I submit my appeal?

The court clerk in the Parking & Transit office will check over your appeal first to see if

1. your ticket is one that the department may simply cancel or should be sent to the court (most of them), and
2. you have submitted it within the 10 business day deadline.

Then the court clerk makes sure that a copy of your ticket is attached to the appeal, puts the ticket into appeal status in the parking software (so there are no holds and the cashiers know you don't have to pay it), and puts it into a packet of appeals to send to the court.

Once the court has read your appeal and made its' decision, they return the docket with decision forms to the court clerk, who then processes the decision and mails out a letter.

Who looks at my appeal anyway?

The court is made up of 2nd- and 3rd-year law students, who make their decisions based on what they think is fair, not necessarily according to the rules.

How long does the appeal take?

In general, the processing time for written appeals is 6-12 weeks.

Is it worth my time to appeal the ticket in the first place?

That is up to you. Since you don't have to pay the ticket until you get the decision back, an appeal will at least put off having to pay the ticket.

How likely is it that the court will grant my appeal (cancel the ticket)?

You have a 50-50 chance — it is a court of equity, making a decision based on your situation. In general, though, the court grants between 25-50% of the appeals on each packet that we send them.

How will I hear about the court's decision?

You'll get a letter in the mail to the address you write on the appeal form. If you move, make sure you let the court clerk know, otherwise you will not get it.

What does "Ex Parte" mean?

To tell you the truth, I don't know what the actual latin phrase translates to, but in this case, "Ex Parte" refers to a written appeal, in which the court will base their decision ONLY on what you write, and nothing else.

What can I do if I don't like the decision?

If you don't like what the court decided, you must appeal the decision immediately, by filing a Petition for Certiorari with the court clerk. You may only do this if you believe the court has made a procedural error.

What if I missed the deadline to appeal the ticket?

Unfortunately, that means that your appeal will not be processed. The deadline is printed on the back of each ticket you receive, and we do enforce that.

What advantage is there to choosing a Personal appeal instead of written only?

In the long run, there isn't really any advantage to a Personal appeal over an Ex Parte (written) appeal. If you write a complete explanation, the outcome is not likely to be any different with either type of appeal.

Football

Why isn't tailgating allowed in the Mississippi Street Garage?

There is no tailgating (no grills, fires of any kind, or alcohol) in the garage because the fire marshall has forbidden it. If we find you with a grill or stove, we will ask you to turn it off.

Why isn't there toll parking in the tailgating area?

The toll parking in the tailgating area is located in lots 34, 54, 61/62, 72, 90.

Where can I catch the shuttle to the football game?

There are two ways to ride the shuttle: Park in toll parking, where a free shuttle stops next to lot 72, in lot 90. Or, park in a downtown parking garage for free to catch the shuttle for $1/person at 9th & New Hampshire or 6th & New Hampshire.

Where can RV's park for football games?

Park your RV in lot 90 near Allen Fieldhouse (18th & Naismith). The fee is $20 per space for parking, and then you can use the shuttle or walk over the hill.

Basketball

Why should I have to move my car on basketball game nights when I am working for or attending class at KU?

You have to move your car because the parking lot has been preempted for the game parking. You should park on the north side of campus. We also hold lots 34 and 61/62 for staff and students with parking permits who are on campus for academic purposes on game nights — please allow plenty of time to find a parking space and get to your building.

Where can I catch the shuttle to the basketball game?

Basketball shuttles run from Park & Ride lot 301, at stop #3. There is no fee for parking in Park & Ride lots on game nights.

Other Events

Where do I park for baseball games?

Baseball games are often scheduled while classes are in session, and we do not open any parking lots for them. The closest visitor parking to Hoaglund Park is at a few parking meters, or in the Allen Fieldhouse Parking Garage.

How do I qualify for a Blue permit?

In order to get a blue permit, your age plus your years of service with the State of Kansas must equal 62 years. For example, I am 29 with 6 years of service = 35. I will qualify for blue in another 13.5 years, when I am 42.

What about a Gold permit?

For gold, your age plus your years of service with the State of Kansas must equal 70 years, and you must also work in a building inside the campus access points. For example, working at Parking, I would only qualify for blue, but if I worked in Strong Hall, then I could qualify for a gold permit, eventually.

Why don't I qualify for a Red permit — I'm a GTA!

Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Research Assistants are not eligible for for a red permit because they are still considered a student, and not staff.

Why shouldn't I give my permit to my kid or a favorite student to go to class?

Well, for one reason, you are the person who qualifies for the permit, not them. Also, permits are not transferable from person to person. Additionally, if they get tickets with your permit, you will be responsible for the tickets.

I am a new employee — how do I get a parking permit, and what do I qualify for?

As a new employee, you generally qualify for a red or yellow permit. We realize that you do not start getting paid for several weeks, and if you want to purchase a 6-week temporary permit to get you started, we will be happy to apply that payment to the cost of the annual permit when you come in to purchase it later.

• Temporary employees — The price of your permit depends on the length of time that you are going to be working on campus. You should ask our cashiers for the most current information when you come in to purchase a permit. As a temporary employee, you are not eligible for payroll deduction.
• Permanent employees — Purchasing an annual permit is going to be the best option, regardless of when you start your job. The permit will expire July 31 each year, and we prorate the permit price beginning in October. Payroll deduction is only offered to new permanent employees until February 1 each year. Otherwise, you must pay for the permit when you come into our office.

If I am leaving my employment at the University of Kansas, do I get a refund for my parking permit?

It is possible that you might qualify for a refund under certain circumstances. Here is what you need to do:

1. Return your permit on your last day of employment. We can give you a courtesy for the rest of the day.
2. We will calculate the amount that the permit is worth at that time, based on a monthly fee.
3. If you did pre-tax payroll deduction, you will not get any refund. However, if you chose 26 or 16 pay periods, you will probably come out about even.
4. If you did payroll deduction after tax, or paid for your permit outright at the beginning of the year, you will qualify for a refund for the difference between the amount you've paid and the value of the permit. No refunds will be processed for less than $5, and your refund will be applied first to any outstanding tickets or any other outstanding balance you might owe to the University.

I am getting ready to retire — what should I do?

First, you should refer to the answer above regarding those leaving their employment at the University of Kansas. It is definitely worth getting a refund, if you are eligible. Second, bring in your new retiree ID card, so that we know you've retired. There will be a $75 fee for a parking permit for retirees, and we will send you a reminder when it is time to renew your permit in the summer. Retirees also have the option of a free permit for the Park & Ride parking lot.

Who is a visitor?

Visitors are people who are not affiliated with the University of Kansas in ANY way.

How do I order visitor permits?

You can order visitor permits by sending an email to Parking & Transit at kupark@ku.edu. Visitor permits may not be purchased for lots 8, 17, 33, 35, 39, 53, 54, 72, 91-94, or ANY gold zone.

How do hooded meters work?

Hooded meters cost $15/day and must be ordered at least two days in advance, so that we can have the officers put the hood over the meter in time for your visitor. If you have ordered a hooded meter and there is someone else parked there when you need it, please call the department, so that we can ticket (and tow) the car parked in your hooded meter space.

What if I need to use my personal vehicle to make a delivery or chauffeur someone around campus for my department?

That is what a departmental pass is meant for. A departmental pass will upgrade someone with a KU permit for up to 3 hours with campus access. Each departmental pass costs $60.

I thought state vehicles didn't need a permit!

Every car on campus needs a parking permit, regardless of who owns it. Permits for state vehicles cost the same as regular permits.

We have a new employee starting tomorrow — what should we do to get them a parking permit?

Your new employee needs either a) their new KUID, or b) a letter from the department on letterhead stating that they are a new employee.

How much does it cost to park in the garage?

The charge to park in the garages is $1.50 per hour or any portion of an hour.

Can I get a permit for the garage?

Yes. Staff permits are $285 and $305 per year. Students have to be on a waiting list before they can get the garage permit, which is $235. Garage permits are sold on an annual basis only.

Why can't I park in lots around the garage with my garage permit?

You may not park in the lots directly surrounding the garages because we guarantee you a space in the garage. If you parked just outside it, you would, in effect, be taking up two parking spaces.

Why isn't my regular surface lot permit valid in the garage?

Your permit is not valid in the garage because the garages cost more to maintain, and the permits which are valid there cost more. Please refer to the answer about garage permits above.

How many people buy permits on campus? How much are permits oversold?

For a basic breakdown of how many people buy permits, and how many spaces there are for those people to park on campus, please visit our Statistics page.

Where do I park with my bicycle? Should I register it somewhere? Do I need a permit for a bicycle?

There are bicycle racks next to practically every building on campus. You do not need a permit for your bicycle, but we highly recommend that you register your bike with the Lawrence Police Department. It costs 25¢ per year, and is very helpful if your bike is stolen anywhere in the city, including on campus.

Is my permit valid at the KU Medical Center? Is the KUMC permit valid on the Lawrence campus?

Yes, we each honor the permit of the other campus. However, if you are at the Med Center more than 50% of the time (either work or enrolled in classes), you are not eligible to purchase a permit on the Lawrence campus.

Where can I park with my motorcycle?

There are designated motorcycle parking spaces on campus. They are indicated by the motorcycle on the signs and on our map. You may NOT park in regular car parking spaces with a motorcycle!

But the Parking & Transit employees get to park for free, don't they?

Actually, no, we don't park for free. We pay the full price for our permits just like everyone else, and we have to pay our tickets, too.

What if my permit is lost or stolen?

Lost and stolen permits are replaced at a prorated fee; because this varies, please contact the Parking & Transit office to determine the amount. Report stolen permits to the appropriate law enforcement agency in the location from which it was stolen. Use of a permit reported lost or stolen can result in issuance of a $150 (+ cost of permit) ticket, the removal of the vehicle from campus, revocation of parking privileges for one year, and imposition of any and all appropriate University academic sanctions. For more information see Lost/Stolen Permits.

Fire lane? What fire lane?

It is very important to pay attention to fire lane signs. Usually they also have red-painted curbs, but not always. Fire lanes are ticketed based on a state statute, so that there is a place for fire trucks in case there is a fire in any building. The fire lanes are 15 feet on each side of a fire hydrant. This includes the patio between the back of Budig Hall and Anschutz Science Library — this is a fire lane, not a loading zone, and you really should not be parking there to pick up or drop off your friends!

Lot restrictions — dorm and yellow lots vs. staff lots restricted year round

Only student lots (yellow and residence halls) are not ticketed when classes are not in session. The staff lots (red, blue and gold zones) and parking garages are restricted YEAR-ROUND, no matter whether classes are in session or not!

Why don't the city laws apply on campus?

City parking rules do not apply on campus because the on-campus parking is actually the private property of the University of Kansas and the Board of Regents, and Kansas laws (KSA 74-3209 through KSA 74-3216) authorize the Board of Regents to make its own rules and set its own fees on the KU campus.

How does the Park & Ride program work?

With a Park & Ride permit, you receive a parking permit ONLY valid in lots 301 and 302 on West Campus, accessible from Clinton Parkway at Crestline Drive.

How do dorm permits work, and where are they valid? Where is my overflow parking?

Please refer to the Parking Regulations for the lot numbers where your permit is valid, and then look at the parking map for the location of these parking lots. Both of these are available in our office, too.

What if I am changing dorms?

You can bring in your permit and exchange it for free. Just stop by. You do have to bring in the remnants of your sticker — otherwise we will have to charge you for the replacement.

Why can't I park at the Visitor's Center?

The Visitor's Center lot is really just for the people at the Visitor Center, not for visitors to residents of the dormitories. If you are going to park there late at night instead of at the Lied Center, you have to get up to move your car again by 7 a.m. to avoid a ticket.

How do I load/unload big projects at Art & Design?

You need to stop at the Parking Department or one of the information booths for a 20-minute loading permit. This is free, and you can park in any regular parking space with a loading permit, as well as in loading zones.

Why isn't it okay to park on the sidewalk by the A&D wood shop — other people do it all the time!

For one thing, that is a sidewalk, and it is never okay to park on the sidewalk to load/unload anything. We WILL ticket your car there. The Facilities Operations and delivery vehicles are the only exceptions.

Why shouldn't I give or loan my permit to my friend, roommate, boyfriend or girlfriend?

Number one, the permit belongs to you, not everyone else you know, so it is really only for you to park. Number two, if you loan the permit to someone else, and they get a ticket in their car, your permit will link every ticket they ever get after that to your account, and having your permit in a ticket will make you responsible for all those tickets... Definitely not a good idea!

What should I do with my permit when I am done with it?

Cut it up and throw it away. This is a good idea so that you don't become responsible for the tickets of someone who pulls your permit out of the trash whole. (See above question!)

I bought a permit through optional campus fees, but now I don't want or need it after all...

You need to fill out our cancellation form by the deadline in September (specific date changes each year). We will not and cannot remove the fee from your tuition account automatically.

If my parents call about my tickets, will that fix my problem?

No. If your mom or dad calls, that will not help your situation at all.

What will you tell my parents about my tickets when/if they call?

It is actually illegal for us to discuss any details of your account with anyone (parents, guardians, grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc.) other than you. We won't tell your parents anything, except the balance due on your account.

Where do you send statements about parking tickets?

We will send statements to the address that you register with us. If we have your email address, we'll probably send you an electronic statement. If you do not register a current address with us, we will send the statement to your home address, as you have it registered with the University.

How do I pay a ticket?

Students, faculty, and staff can pay tickets in the Finances section of the Kyou Portal. For all others, ticket payments may be made with credit cards in our public payment page. Ticket payments may also be made in our office, sent through the mail, or in one of the red fine boxes located throughout campus. We accept cash, check, money orders, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover.

What do I do if my car breaks down?

Call the Parking Department as soon as it happens, so that we can ap your car to our Disabled Vehicle List. Although we cannot prevent tickets from being issued to your car, we can usually cancel tickets issued after you made the report.

When are the meters ticketed?

20- and 40-minute meters are ticketed 24 hours. Long-term meters (1-, 2-, 4- and 10-hour meters) are usually ticketed the same hours of the lot where they are located. For example, in yellow lots, meters are ticketed 8-4, in staff lots, meters are ticketed 7-5 or 7:30, and in the dorms, meters are ticketed 24 hours between 7AM on Monday and 5PM on Friday.

I forgot my permit — shouldn't the officer just know that I have a valid permit when they look at my license plate?

Our parking officers cannot tell that you have a valid parking permit just by looking at your car. The computerized ticketwriter also does not tell them any of this information, so they must see a permit to count it as valid. If you forget your permit, you should come into our office for a free courtesy permit — we give you up to 20 days per year of free parking when you've forgotten your permit.

But I was just there for (fill in the blank) minutes!

It doesn't matter how long you park illegally — the officer does not have any way of knowing how long you were there already or how long you will be there after he leaves, and even 1 minute in a handicap stall or anywhere else is too long. Just because you are only turning in a paper or homework, does not make it okay.

What happens if I never pay my parking tickets? Or: Why did you tow my car today?

Parking & Transit puts a hold on your account to keep you from enrolling or getting a transcript after just one ticket. If you have 3 or more tickets outstanding for more than 10 business days, your car is eligible to be towed. You have to pay your entire balance plus towing fees if that happens. If we don't catch your payment either of these two ways, we send the account to collections, and eventually write it off to the state, who will deduct the amount you owe from any state income tax refund due you.

But downtown, the ticket is only $3!

Yes, but we are not downtown, and we have our own rules... However, unlike city tickets, ours do not increase in price with late fees.

Why can't you just cancel my ticket? I had a good reason to be parked there.

Unfortunately, you really do have to follow the parking rules on campus. We're pretty strict about enforcing our rules. If you want to argue your case, you should fill out an appeal form.

Where is the free visitor parking on campus?

Unfortunately, there is NO free parking on campus for visitors. If you are visiting campus, you should park in one of the two parking garages or at a parking meter.

What if someone is visiting a student at the dorms?

In most residence hall areas (not Jayhawk Towers or Alumni Place scholarship halls), you can purchase a visitor permit for $2/day. You DO need a visitor permit for weeknights, since the residence hall lots are ticketed 24 hours.

This is my first time on campus, and I got a ticket. What should I do?

Please call us – after verifying that you are not a student or employee of the University of Kansas, we will probably be able to cancel the ticket for you. But this is only if you call us within 2 weeks (10 business days) after receiving the ticket. After that, you will have to pay the ticket.

As a former student, am I considered a visitor?

If you are a former student, we expect you to know where the garages and/or meters are located, and we will not cancel any tickets for you.