I. General expectations


  A. Any student who wishes to keep or operate any motor vehicle while enrolled at Goshen College must:

  1. Register the vehicle and display the parking permit by the first day of class each semester.
  2. Have the vehicle covered by public liability and property damage insurance, and have current license plate and tags.
  B. The administratation reserves the right to withdraw parking privileges from any student, staff, or faculty person.

II. Registration


Motor Vehicle registration at Goshen College is FREE . Registration should be done prior to the first day of class. Registration is done online at http://www.goshen.edu/checkin/Vehicle_Registration .

Any student who operates a motor vehicle while enrolled at Goshen College must register it at the beginning of each semester. This includes students who are residential, commuter or auditing a course. The vehicle must also be covered by public liability and property damage insurance and must have a current license plate and state registration sticker.

If a nonresident student drives a vehicle to campus, the vehicle must be registered. This policy also applies to resident students who bring a motor vehicle onto campus after the beginning of the semester. Students who bring a motor vehicle, other than one registered, onto campus must register it within seven days.

Display the sticker in the front windshield lower passenger side. On motorbikes and scooters, pace them on the rear fender in a clearly visible position.

All students that have motorcycles must come to the physical plant office to get them registered. This may not be done on line.

Students with a documented medical condition may apply for a permit that allows parking in restricted areas. Faculty and staff must go to the human resources department for a restricted permit.

Temporary registration of motor vehicles
Temporary registration permits are available for vehicles on campus for a short time. Visitors may obtain a courtesy permit upon request at the physical plant office, ext. 7351. Seminary students who are doing research at Goshen College will be issued a temporary permit for use during their research. Students who bring a car to campus for a week or two but not for most of the semester need a temporary permit.

III. Regulations

  A. General
  1. No parking
    1. in service drives or spaces.
    2. in any area marked by a yellow curb.
    3. in areas posted by signs.
    4. on sidewalks or lawns.
    5. in front of dumpsters.
  2. All faculty/staff parking lots have restricted parking from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and there are some spaces reserved 24 hours for working faculty and staff.
  3. All visitor lots have restricted parking from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and there are some spaces reserved 24 hours for working faculty and staff.
  4. Upon application to the physical plant, a  special permit may be given to physically challenged people with a valid doctor's slip to park in specified areas. Numerous handicap parking spaces are provided on campus and are patrolled regularly to ensure they are not abused. Faculty/staff must apply at the human resources office for a temporary handicap sticker. 
  5. College-owned cars must be parked in the physical plant motor pool spaces, or in open parking. The may not be parked in faculty/staff or visitor spaces. Violations of this policy will be charged to the driver or department who signed out the car.
B. Violations include the following:

  1. Driving recklessly or exceeding campus speed limit of 15 miles per hour.
  2. Driving, riding, or parking on sidewalks or lawns.
  3. Parking in a restricted area.
  4. Parking in a handicapped area without proper designation on or in the vehicle.
  5. Failure to register vehicle.
  6. Failure to permanently mount a sticker after purchasing it.
  7. Improperly mounting a sticker with clips or adhesives or mounting a sticker on a tinted window.
  8. Failure to notify the physical plant within seven days of a license plate change.
  9. Registering a vehicle in another person's name.
  10. Abandonment or failure to keep vehicle in operable condition. (Flat tires, broken windows, battered body, noncurrent license plates, etc.)  Per city ordinance, such vehicles will be tagged by the city of Goshen and towed at the owner's expense.
  11. Repeated similar offenses constitute a more serious offense. Vehicles continually found in violation will be subject to having a wheel lock installed.
C. Traffic control

  1. The physical plant, under the direction of the traffic board:
    1. registers motor vehicles operated by students, faculty and staff members of Goshen College
    2. issues and revokes parking permits
    3. issues traffic tickets
    4. assumes and charges fines
    5. recommends policy and signage
  2. Appeals must be made in writing to student life within one week from the time the ticket was issued.
D. Systems for handling violations

  1. Failure to register a vehicle or properly mount a registration sticker will result in an automatic $35 fine. Ticketing will begin the first day of class. No warnings are given for this offense.  Subsequent tickets for nonregistration of a vehicle carry a $35 fine.
  2. Violations are cumulative throughout the school year.
  3. Violations are equal in weight except for failure to register a vehicle.
  4. The first ticket ill be considered a warning, except for nonregistration of a vehicle.
  5. A $20 fine is levied beginning with the violator's second ticket. All fines will be charged to violator's account within five days of the ticket being written.
  6. After three tickets of a similar nature and no response from the offender, a wheel lock may be installed. A $35 fine will be charged for removal or when applicable we will do a license plate check and charge a $10 fee.
  7. Vehicles blocking access to a parking lot, building, or dumpster may be impounded. All costs will be the responsibility of the owner.

IV. Appeals Policy


All appeals must be directed to student life. Appeals will be limited to two conditions in which it can be clearly demonstrated that 1) the ticket writer was in error in giving the ticket, or 2) there was some unusual circumstance, which was beyond the person's control.
The second limitation does not include the misuse of one's vehicle by another person, or failing to call security if your car breaks down. The responsibility for the operation and parking of a vehicle rests with the owner, and the board will not hear appeals in those instances in which someone other than the owner parks or operates a vehicle inappropriately.
No appeals will be allowed for violation, which is spelled out in the documents provided by the college. Bringing a vehicle to campus carries with it the responsibility to know all the specific circumstances under which that vehicle may be operated and parked.
Persons who receive citations are expected to respond by contacting the student life office immediately. Appeals must be made in writing within one week of the time the ticket was charged to the violator's account.


Parking FAQs:


  1. My car has broken down and I can't move it. What should I do?
    • First, call campus security at 7599 and they will attempt to help you with your vehicle. Then ask them to leave a message with physical plant in order to avoid a ticket for illegal parking. If you do not contact security when you can't move your vehicle, you are liable for any and all tickets that you may receive.
  2. My friend/relative drove my car onto campus and they didn't know the parking rules. Is the ticket void?
    • No, you are responsible for anyone that drives or parks your vehicle on the Goshen College campus. All fines will be sent to the person under which the violating vehicle is registered.
  3. I or my spouse only drive my parent's/spouse's car on campus a couple of times a year. Do I need to register it?
    • Yes, you have seven days in which to register a vehicle once it first comes on campus. If you fail to register it within this time period your vehicle will be eligible to be wheel locked. Please register all vehicles that you may ever drive onto the campus.
  4. I only have a vehicle on campus for a short period of time. What should I do?
    • If your vehicle will be on campus for two weeks or less (excluding May term), you should come to the physical plant within seven days to pick up a temporary parking permit.If your vehicle will be on campus for more than two weeks you must register for a permanent registration sticker.
  5. I live close to campus and probably won't ever drive my car on campus. Do I need to register my vehicle? 
    • A registration sticker is necessary for all students, staff, and faculty who drive their vehicles onto campus. It is in your best interest to register your vehicle because any ticket for "no current registration" carries an automatic $35 fine for current students, faculty, and staff.
  6. If my spouse brings a car on campus, does it need to be registered?
    • Yes. All vehicles must be registered.

Questions/Concerns


The Physical plant is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you have any questions regarding your ticket, please contact the office for clarification. If, at any time, your vehicle breaks down or you need assistance, please call either the physical plant at ext. 7351 or campus security at ext. 7599

Contact Info

Ph:(574) 535-7351  •  Fax: (574) 535-7356 • : E-mail:
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