Motor Vehicles and Parking

Introduction

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To provide for a safe, secure, equitable operation, and for the control of motor vehicles on the campus of East Stroudsburg University, those utilizing motor vehicles on campus must follow a common set of rules and regulations. The Pennsylvania Crimes Code (Title 18) of 1972, Section 7505; Act 34 of 1949; and Act 188 of 1983 authorizes all Commonwealth agencies to regulate and enforce motor vehicle traffic and parking on Commonwealth property. A motor vehicle is defined as any self-propelled vehicle.

Policy

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All motor vehicles parking on campus must be registered with the University Security/Parking Office. Applicants for registration of a vehicle must possess a current driver’s license and a current state vehicle registration card. Any charge for registering a vehicle on campus shall be determined by the president of the university. The university and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania assume no responsibility or liability for loss or damage to any motor vehicle parked or driven on its property.

The University Police shall have the authority to temporarily close or restrict parking or traffic flow on the ESU campus. This includes but is not limited to special events, snow removal, and athletic contests. Proceeding by citation, summons or warrant for violations of the motor vehicle code before a magistrate shall be in accordance with the rules of criminal procedure in effect at the time of the violation.

Parking regulations are enforced 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year. 

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Failure to have read the guidelines governing all motor vehicles on the ESU campus shall not constitute a valid excuse for non-compliance.

Guidelines and Procedures Resident Parking Eligibility

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As of the 2025/2026 academic school year, all resident students are eligible to purchase a parking permit and bring their vehicle to campus.

Vehicle Registration

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Each semester, students shall register their vehicles within two weeks of the first day of classes as determined by the university Undergraduate Catalog. Students will be assigned to student parking areas and must park in those appropriate areas. Any student who acquires the use of a vehicle after the regular registration period must register the vehicle immediately upon bringing the vehicle on campus for the first time. Replacement of, or additional, vehicles must be registered within the first business day of bringing the vehicle to campus for the first time. 

Upon sale, trade or other disposition of any vehicle displaying any type of current parking permit, and replacing it with a new vehicle, the owner/operator shall be responsible for updating the vehicle information through the Warriors Connect Portal or by contacting the Security/Parking Office.

Parking Permits

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All vehicles parking on campus must be registered with a valid permit designated by type. Students may purchase a permit online through the Warriors Connect Portal. 
Students are not permitted to use their permit on or register a vehicle whose owner/operator is another student, or the parent(s) or relative of another student.

Student Parking Permit Fees

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• Commuter permits: If purchased before 9/1/2025 - $70/semester or $100/year
• Commuter permits: If purchased 9/1/2025 or after - $100/semester or $150/year
• Resident permits: $70/semester or $100/year
• University Ridge permits: $70/semester or $100/year

Physical permits are no longer issued. 

Registration is completed by vehicle license plate.

Currently there is no charge for parking in any student lot during the summer break provided the student’s vehicle is parking in a student lot.
Visit Parking and Transportation for additional permit information

Violations

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It is not possible to mark with signs or paint all areas where parking is prohibited. However, the following guidelines will be strictly enforced. You may not park a vehicle or permit it to stand attended or unattended:

• Without possessing a valid permit
• In reserved spaces without a proper permit
• In “No Parking” areas
• Inside any stadium or on any athletic field
• In a handicapped space without a valid plate or placard
• In fire lanes, fire exits or within 15 feet of a fire hydrant
• Blocking doorways
• In loading zones unless actually loading or unloading. Flashers must be on and time is limited to 20 minutes. Loading vehicles may not violate any provisions of the Pennsylvania State Vehicle Code, and may not park in any posted space
• In service entrances, construction sites, or spaces reserved for maintenance vehicles
• On lawns, sidewalks, crosswalks, parking lot driveways and curb cuts for persons with disabilities or straddling painted lines
• Within 30 feet of a stop sign
• In areas where the permit is not valid
• Over or adjacent to curbs painted yellow
• Against the flow of traffic
• On roadways, in traffic lanes or within intersections

Any person who is issued a University parking permit in violation of the following guidelines or a person who uses it shall be issued a ticket for fraudulent registration. The giving of false information to the Security/Parking Office to obtain a parking permit may result in prosecution.

Refunds will not be issued for fraudulent permit purchases. Fraudulent registration includes but is not limited to:

• Multiple vehicle registration for the same period, except as permitted by University guidelines. Registration of a vehicle which is to be used by a person who is not authorized a permit for University parking.
• Use of a “Temporary Permit/Day Pass” by Faculty, Staff, or Student unless the Security/Parking Office authorizes the use.
• Misrepresentation of an individual’s eligibility (including local address) to secure a University parking permit.

Parking Fines

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• Unauthorized parking in handicapped space: $100 - $200
• Fraudulent registration: $50 + Loss of parking privileges
• Parking on grass: $25 + Damages
• Parking outside designated space: $25
• Parking against the flow of traffic: $25
• Parking less than 15 feet from a fire hydrant: $25
• Parking within 30 feet of a stop sign: $25
• Parking in a Reserved Space: $50
• Misuse of a parking permit: $50
• Improper display or failure to display a valid parking permit: $25
• Boot Removal: first offense $50, second offense $100, third offense $150 within an academic year (each additional offense after the third is also $150)
• All other parking violations: $25
• Moving violations: $50-$200 (ESU citation)

A person commits a summary offense if he/she does any of the following on the university campus:

• Operates a motor vehicle on a highway at a speed in excess of the maximum posted limit;
• Operates a motor vehicle on any highway which is posted as closed to motor vehicles; 
• Operates a motor vehicle on a designated snow emergency route during a declared snow emergency without snow tires or chains;
• Operates a motor vehicle being used for business or commerce without specific written approval from an authorized official of the university;
• Operates a motor vehicle so as to cause noise which is unreasonably loud, raucous, jarring, disturbing or a nuisance to persons within the area of audibility;
• Operates a motor vehicle on university grounds other than roads or other areas designated for the operation of motor vehicles;
• Operates a motor vehicle so as to disobey the directions of any traffic signal or sign, unless otherwise directed by a police officer;
• Parks a motor vehicle in a designated accessible space and the operator of said vehicle is not disabled or transporting a disabled person. Vehicle must display an accessible plate, permit or placard.

Any person in violation of the above rules shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $100. Said payment shall terminate any further prosecution of said offense. Failure to pay the penalty within 10 business days may result in a Commonwealth citation being filed with the District Magistrate incurring additional fines plus costs of prosecution. (This guideline does not preclude a police officer from issuing a Commonwealth traffic citation instead of proceeding with a University citation).

The Chief of Police or Director of Parking and Transportation shall provide the name of any student charged with 10 parking or moving violations in any semester to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for disciplinary action. A separate hold will be put on a student’s records for each parking violation issued. Holds are removed as the tickets are paid in full.

Booting, Towing and Impounding

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The University reserves the right to immobilize (boot) or to remove and impound abandoned vehicles or any vehicle found on campus:

• With three or more unpaid parking tickets
• With an unauthorized, altered or revoked permit 
• Without a license plate
• With an expired license plate/vehicle registration
• Parked in driveways, fire lanes, reserved or service vehicle spaces, and reserved lots
• In repeated violation of parking guidelines 
• Blocking a loading dock or trash dumpster 
• Parked in an area designated as a construction zone or in an area which requires emergency repairs 
• Parked in such a way as to constitute a hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic or to the movement and operation of emergency equipment

The owner will be responsible for costs involved in removing, impounding and storing such a vehicle, including any expenses charged by the towing company as a “show-up” fee or road service fee. Boots will not be removed until all fines/fees owed to the University have been satisfied.

• The owner or operator will have 72 hours from the date the immobilizing device was placed on the vehicle to make payment in full for any unpaid tickets (if applicable) plus an additional fee for the removal of the immobilizing device.
• The boot removal ticket fines are as follows: $50 for the first offense, $100 for the second offense, and $150 for the third offense within an academic year (each additional offense after the third is also $150).
• If the total amount of fines and fees are not paid within 72 hours, the vehicle may be towed off campus.
• The owner/operator of the vehicle will pay the towing and storage fees at the office of the designated tower.
• The owner/operator must first report to the University Police Department or Security/Parking Office for a release form prior to the release of the vehicle from the towing company. 
• Prior to receiving the release form all fines/fees owed to the University must be paid.
• Any person who shall tamper with, damage, deface, remove or attempt to remove any device used to immobilize a vehicle which has been booted by the University Police or Security, or who shall move or attempt to move the booted vehicle before the release of the vehicle has been officially secured, shall be reported to Student Conduct, may be prosecuted and shall be required to make full restitution for damages caused by such actions.

Tow-away areas shall be posted with tow-away signs. No vehicle shall be removed under the authority of this policy if, at the time of removal, the owner/operator expresses a willingness and intention to immediately remove said vehicle and pay any appropriate charges due.

For a complete listing of campus parking guidelines visit Parking and Transportation