Motor Vehicle Regulations and Enforcement
Mt. Hood Community College (MHCC) exercises its authority under Oregon Revised Statute 341.300 to adopt policing, control and regulation of traffic and parking of vehicles on MHCC property under the jurisdiction of the College. All applicable vehicle laws, codes and regulations apply on all MHCC campuses and properties. To enforce regulations governing traffic control, public safety officers are appointed as peace officers and have the same authority as other peace officers as defined in ORS 133.005. In addition, public safety officers and other assigned public safety personnel are authorized to enforce parking regulations. It is the responsibility of each motor vehicle operator to know the applicable vehicle laws, codes and regulations, including parking regulations at the College. MHCC assumes no responsibility or liability for any motor vehicle or its contents while parked or operated on College property. Copies of the parking rules and regulations are available in the public safety office and on the College website.

Temporary Regulations/Instructions
Occasionally special short-term conditions arise that may require suspending a portion of these regulations or may require additional temporary regulations and/or instructions. The director of safety and security is authorized to institute temporary changes as circumstances require. Citations will be issued to persons violating any temporary signs, barricades or markings.

Where to Park
There are general parking spaces at all campus locations. In addition, the Gresham campus has designated 30-minute, disabled, reserved, vendor, carpool parking, and designated parking for cosmetology and dental clients as well as areas for loading and unloading. The Bruning Center for Allied Health Education and Maywood Park campuses also have limited parking. Parking is available on a first come/first served basis. Vehicle operators are responsible for locating a legal parking space.

Parking  

1. Parking is permitted only in designated parking spaces.
2. Disabled parking is available at all campuses. All persons with state-issued disabled permits may use disabled parking spaces. Valid permits must be displayed. Disabled permits may be obtained through the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles.  For more info: http://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv/pages/driverid/disparking.aspx 
3. The President’s Office is responsible for issuing permits for reserved spaces.
4. Vendors and contractors are required to use general parking available in all lots on a first come/first served basis. Special parking arrangements can be made by contacting the public safety office.
5. Loading and unloading zones are for the specific use of loading and unloading only and are limited to the time as posted at the zones, with the exception of authorized campus maintenance service vehicles.
6. Designated motorcycle and scooter parking is available on the Gresham campus.  These vehicles may also park in any other properly designated parking space.
7. Overnight parking is allowed only for current employees and students for College-related activities by special arrangement with the public safety office or for visitors at special events if included in the event contract.
8. Stopping or parking of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, in non-designated parking spaces is prohibited unless actively engaged in loading or unloading property or passengers.
9. The primary or transitional registered owner, as recorded by the Department of Motor Vehicles, of a motor vehicle utilizing MHCC properties is responsible for any MHCC citation issued to the motor vehicle.

Traffic Enforcement
Public safety officers monitor MHCC properties using various methods and enforce applicable traffic laws, codes, regulations and parking rules. Public safety officers may stop a person as authorized under ORS 131.605 to 131.625 to enforce regulations governing traffic control and are authorized to request a valid driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of insurance. Public safety officers conduct traffic stops by signaling with warning light equipment mounted on public safety vehicles. If the warning light does not catch the attention of the vehicle operator the officer will sound the horn or siren. Persons attempting to elude the public safety officer will be served the appropriate citation at the first available opportunity. 

Violations and Sanctions
It will be considered a violation of District regulations for the operator of any motor vehicle to:

Other Sanctions

1. Violations may be referred to local law enforcement agencies for possible criminal charges.
2. Individuals who have been found guilty of three or more violations for the same offense will be charged an additional $50.00 for the third violation and each violation thereafter. This will be in addition to the standard fine for the violation of which they are found guilty, for a total of $75.00 per violation. 
3. If any fines remain unpaid, a hold may be placed on student records until all citations and/or charges are paid.
4. In cases of repeated infractions or violations of such a magnitude as to constitute a serious hazard to people or College property, public safety officers will notify the following officials who should follow up with administrative actions as appropriate:
   1. Student violators will be referred to the dean of student success;
   2. Employee violators will be referred to the appropriate vice president.

All motorized vehicles operated or parked in violation of these regulations will be cited. Parking citations will be placed on vehicle windshields. Parking citations are the responsibility of the registered owner.  

Payment of Fines
Fines are to be paid online at www.mhcc.edu or in person at:
Mt Hood Community College
Admissions and Registration (AC2253)
26000 SE Stark
Gresham, OR 97030

Checks are not accepted for the payment of parking violations. Failure to pay or appeal the citation within 14 calendar days will result in doubling of fine. Fines over $25 not paid within 90 calendar days may be turned over to a collections agency.

Citation Appeals
Citations may be appealed within 14 calendar days of issuance. Citations not appealed within 14 calendar days of issuance will not be reviewed by the citation review committee and the penalty will be considered delinquent.

Instructions for appealing citations are printed on the citations.

The citation hearings committee will meet on the first Wednesday of every month. The committee will be composed of one student member, one full-time faculty, one part-time faculty, one classified staff, one confidential staff and one executive committee staff. Committee members will be appointed by the appropriate association president and/or the appropriate vice president and will serve for one fiscal year or until replaced. Each association president will also appoint alternate committee members. The director of safety and security or designee will serve as the facilitator of the committee.

The committee will review all written petitions filed by violators. The committee will also hear any violator who wishes to appear in person. The committee, by majority vote of the members or alternates present, will adjudicate the citation. The committee may not increase the amount of the penalty. Three members or alternates present will constitute a quorum. The committee’s decision will be considered as final and is not subject to appeal.

Booting, Towing and Impounding Policy and Fees

Any vehicle found parked on College property that has three or more unpaid citations may be booted. A vehicle boot is an immobilization device that attaches to the wheel of a vehicle and will prevent it from being driven. Attaching the boot will not cause damage unless the driver attempts to drive with the boot still attached. The boot will be removed only when all fines are paid. An additional charge of $50 will be assessed to remove the boot. A vehicle may also be booted if it does not have license plates and/or the vehicle identification number (VIN) is covered.

The College reserves the right to tow and impound vehicles parked and/or left unattended anywhere on College property that impedes traffic or fulfills one of the following:

1. The vehicle is parked in a manner that violated College parking regulations;
2. The vehicle is parked in a manner which is dangerous to vehicular and/or pedestrian traffic;
3. The vehicle restricts pedestrian and/or wheelchair routes;
4. The vehicle blocks or partially blocks a service driveway, fire lane, red curbing and/or roadway;
5. The vehicle is found parked in a hazardous manner;
6. The vehicle presents a safety concern.

The College also reserves the right to tow any vehicle blocking a reserved area or is deemed to have been abandoned for five calendar days unless prior arrangements are made with the public safety office. A tow warning will be issued after the vehicle is abandoned for 24 hours. All towing and impound fees will be the responsibility of the vehicle’s owner. To determine if a vehicle has been towed, the owner can contact the public safety office.