Can I park on campus?
All vehicles parked on property owned or leased by George Mason University
must display a valid GMU parking permit or pass or park in the parking
decks or at the meters at the prevailing rates. All vehicles must abide
by the University's Administrative Policy No. 1108, and the associated
set of Procedures which govern motor vehicle policies and regulations.
These are available online for review and familiarization.
Are there enough parking spaces?
There are enough spaces on campus for students, staff, faculty, and visitors
we have daily at GMU. The problem is that not all of the parking spaces
are as close as everyone would like them to be. The exception to this
is the Arlington campus which has very limited parking available.
Do I need to register my car if I park on campus?
Yes. It is required that all vehicles operated by faculty, staff, or students
be registered with Parking Services.
Is there metered parking available on campus?
Yes. Please check the map for locations of meters. Metered parking is
enforced from 7:00am to 10:00pm. Meters on the Fairfax campus accept quarters
only. Inoperable or broken meters are considered closed spaces.
What do I do if I need to load/unload materials at a dorm or
other building on campus?
All valid GMU permits are honored at load/unload parking spaces for up
to thirty (30) minutes with flashers on. Under certain circumstances,
close-up building access may be required for load/unload purposes, where
no space has been designated. In these instances, the individual must
contact Parking Services during office hours (Monday - Friday, 8:30am
- 5:00pm) at (703)993-2710.
Is there handicap parking on campus?
Handicap parking is available in most lots, including Deck 1. Check signage
for any lot restrictions. For further information, please see the Parking
Policy and Procedures regarding handicap parking.
Why are lots sometimes closed for events?
The university sponsors many events, (academic, athletic, and cultural),
throughout the course of each year. Parking on campus is a very critical
commodity as there are about 14,000 spaces on all three campuses to satisfy
the multiple daily requirements for each of the faculty, staff, students,
and visitors. Therefore, to accommodate the maximum number of customers,
Parking Services uses spaces and lots for multiple reasons, including
events.
What do I do if my vehicle will not start?
Vehicle owners who have parked illegally as a result of mechanical problems
or who require motorist assistance (jump starts) should contact Parking
Services from 7:00am to 11:00pm at (703) 993-2715 or the University Police
at (703) 993-2810.
Do I need a permit if I only come to campus at night?
In short, yes. The hours of enforcement for GMU parking areas are twenty
four hours a day, seven days a week unless otherwise posted. This includes
all times when the University is closed, whether or not classes are in
session. Permits are required at all times. Selected exceptions to these
times can be found in the Procedures regarding enforcement.
Is my permit transferable to another vehicle?
Yes. You may use your hangtag in another vehicle that you drive. Permits
are not transferable from person to person, however.
What do I do if my permit is lost or stolen?
You must immediately complete a lost/stolen permit report (this includes
filing a police report for stolen permits) and obtain a replacement permit.
A $50.00 replacement fee
may be charged for lost permits and stolen permits. If a lost or stolen permit is found on
a vehicle, the registered owner(s) will be cited for fraudulent display
and subject to any and all fines and legal ramifications imposed by the
University and/or the Commonwealth of Virginia.
What do I do if I find a permit that is not mine?
Do not use it! The registered owner(s) of any vehicle displaying or using
a permit verified as lost or stolen by the purchaser will be cited for
fraudulent display and subject to any and all fines and legal ramifications
imposed by the University and/or the Commonwealth of Virginia. If you
should find a permit that does not belong to you, please return it to
Parking Services immediately.
Does my permit expire on a specific date?
Yes. The expiration date is listed on the front of all GMU permits. In
general, Fall semester permits expire on December 31; Annual/Spring semester
permits expire on August 31.
Is a refund available if I leave school or do not need my permit
anymore?
Depending on 1) when you purchased the permit and 2) when you return the
permit to Parking Services, a partial or full refund may be available.
Please read the refund schedule listed in the Procedures for further details.
How can I avoid receiving a citation?
* Always have your valid parking permit displayed.
* Always park completely inside an appropriately designated parking space
between two parking control lines.
* Obey timed parking zones like meters and loading zones.
* Finally, when in doubt, refer to the parking brochure or web pages for
maps, policies, and locations, or call Parking Services at (703)993-2710.
Are citations written over breaks, during the summer, on weekends,
etc.?
As above with permit enforcement, the short answer is yes. The hours of
enforcement for GMU parking areas are twenty four hours a day, seven days
a week unless otherwise posted. This includes all times when the University
is closed, whether or not classes are in session. Permits are required
at all times. Selected exceptions to these times can be found in the Procedures
regarding enforcement.
What happens if I just park somewhere illegally for a minute,
or a friend or teacher told me to park there?
If you are in doubt, contact Parking Services for the answer. A professor,
police officer, or friend may intend to be helpful, but will not be responsible
for your citation. If you even stay for a minute or two, your vehicle
is still as illegally parked as if it had been there all day.
I got a citation I don't think I deserve. Why can't I just ignore
it?
If you received a citation, you shouldn't ignore it. If the officer made
a mistake, we need to correct it. If they didn't, and the mistake is yours,
then don't set yourself up to get more citations or have further action(s)
taken against you before the matter is straightened out. If you disagree
with a citation, appeal it within ten (10) calendar days. While it is
fresh in your memory, present all of the facts in your appeal. Simply
saying you didn't do anything wrong or that the officer made a mistake
is not sufficient. You should give the Appeals Officer as much information
as possible on which to base a decision. Failure to pay fines can lead
to impounding of the vehicle, academic holds, collection fees, and/or
tax setoff.
What options do I have for paying citations?
Parking Services accepts the following as payments: cash, check, Mason
Money, money orders, MasterCard, or Visa. All credit card payments must
be made in person in the Parking Services Office. Payments over the phone
cannot be accepted. Please read the acceptable payment information listed
in the Procedures for further details.
Have citation fines changed?
Fines can change from year to year, or as mandated by the University.
Contact Parking Services or read the citation fine information listed
in the Procedures for further details.
Who is responsible for a citation?
Permit holders are responsible for citations issued to their permit regardless
of vehicle ownership. If no permit is present, the registered vehicle
owner(s) will be held respopnsible.
Can I appeal a citation I feel is unjust?
Yes. Appeals may be filed within ten (10) calendar days of the citation
issue date. Appeals may either be written or presented in person to an
Appeals Officer. No appeals can be given any consideration after thirty
(30) calendar days of the citation issue date.
What reasons are generally not accepted for an appeal?
Here are some of the most common defenses used in appealing tickets, all
of which are normally rejected by the appeals boards:
* "It was only for a few minutes."
* "I knew it was a no-parking zone, but cars park there all the time
and never get ticketed."
* "I was using my personal car for University business." (This
defense is often used for parking at loading docks or other restricted
areas.)
* "I didn't know I couldn't park there."
* "I had to use the restroom."
* "...but there were plenty of open spaces."
If my appeal is denied or downgraded, can I appeal it further?
Most appeals may be apealed further. Expedited (oral) appeals may not
be apealed further. When you receive the initial appeal result letter,
it will indicate if you have the option to appeal that citation further.
What do I do when a parent or friend comes to visit me on campus?
*Visitors to the Fairfax campus should make use of the pay parking options:
parking decks located in the center of campus or meters. All-day parking
is available for $8 per ticket pulled at the parking decks. Visitors
may also use short-term metered parking at prevailing rates.
*Visitors to the Prince William Campus should park in a numbered parking
space, take note of the number, and pay at the electronic parking meter
located in the Occoquan lot or in the lobby of the Discovery building.
Daypasses are also available at the Parking Services office in the Occoquan
building.
*There is no visitor parking on the Arlington Campus. Individuals who
wish to park on the campus without a permit must contact the Arlington
Campus Operations Office at (703) 993-8140 to make special parking arrangements
if available.
