Summer Parking Policy

Vehicles on Campus

Motor vehicles parked at any time on University property or streets by students, faculty, or staff must display a current permit, which is obtained from the Office of Parking and ID Card Services. 

Summer 2009 Parking Enforcement

Effective Monday, May 18 through Friday, August 7, 2009

Permit Enforcement - 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday 

·      Employee Parking Permits - Valid in any regular permit space on campus.  (Resident, Student, All University Permit or unassigned Faculty/Staff spaces)

·      Student Parking Permits - Valid in all Resident, Student and/or All University Permit Areas (not valid in Fac/Staff areas)

·      Resident Parking Permits - Valid in all Resident, Student and/or All University Permit Areas; not valid in Meadows Museum garage. (not valid in Fac/Staff areas)

·      Summer Parking Permits - Valid in all Resident, Student and/or All University Permit Areas

·      2009 Summer Conference Parking Permits - Valid in all Resident, Student and/or All University Permit Areas.  May be used to park overnight in the Meadows garage.

·      2009 AARO Parking Permits - Valid in any Resident, Student and/or All University Permit Areas.  May be used to park overnight in Meadows garage.

·      Admissions Recruitment Parking Permits - Valid for the Moody garage and in any Resident, Student or All University Permit Areas.

·      Contractor Parking Permits - Valid in the contractor's parking lot on SMU Blvd. or other locations as designated on the permit.

·      Temporary Parking Permits - Valid for dates and locations designated on the permit only.

·      Guest Parking Permits - Valid for dates and locations designated on the permit only. 

Meter Enforcement - 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday

Moody Garage Visitors – 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday

Visitors must pay to park in the Moody garage and display a paid receipt on the dash of their vehicle where it is plainly visible or may be subject to citation.

University Visitor’s Lot - 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday

Binkley Garage Visitor’s Parking (level 2) – 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

Employee Assigned Parking Lots (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, O & U) - Parking by assignment only between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.  Gates will continue to operate as normally scheduled. 

Moody, Meadows, Airline and Binkley garage gates will continue to operate as normally scheduled. 

Fire lanes, handicapped and reserved spaces enforced at all times.

Vehicles without SMU parking permits that receive two or more citations will be subject to immobilization.

Loaner / Rental Cars

It is the responsibility of all permit holders to make arrangements to obtain a temporary parking permit in our Park N Pony office in the event that a rental or loaner car is brought onto campus for an undetermined period. 

Having purchased a permit for one's primary vehicle does not imply that rental or loaner vehicles may park on campus without a (temporary) parking permit properly displayed. A permit is mandatory for any vehicle on campus unless parked in a paid metered space. 

Compact Car Vs Non-compact Car

The University reserves the right to discern between the two.  All vehicles parked in compact parking spaces not deemed "compact" by the University are subject to citation.

Motorcycle Regulations

All vehicles on campus must be identifiable and therefore motorcycles, vespas, scooters, and all other motorized cycles require a permit.  If a motorcycle is the primary mode of transportation, the full fee for a parking permit is applicable.  However, if  it is the secondary mode of transportation and a parking permit for the primary has been paid for, the second motorcycle permit is free of charge.  Permits must be visible on the vehicle.

Generally parking enforcement is lenient with regard to motorcycle violations barring that the vehicle does not block critical areas (but not limited to) i.e., loading zones, disabled spaces/ramps, sidewalks, driveways and the like.

Persons With Disabilities

1. SMU provides spaces throughout the campus for the parking needs of persons with disabilities. The campus honors any government-issued disability designation visibly displayed. Requirements for authorization to park a vehicle in a “Disabled” space are a state “Disabled” license plate, a state “Disabled” decal, or any disabled designation issued by a government entity.

2. Guests to the campus, with proper state designation and with the disabled person in possession of the vehicle, may park in any legal parking space, including spaces designated for disabled parking. This does not apply to “RESERVED” disabled spaces. Permits or license plates denoting disability do not permit anyone to park in “Fire Lanes”, “No Parking” areas, or “Reserved” parking spaces. If there is a question regarding special parking needs, contact the Park ‘n Pony Office at 214-768-7275.

3. SMU has provisions to issue a temporary disabled permit. Temporary disabled permits may be issued with written authorization from a physician. This issuance is done at the Park ‘n Pony office. Temporary permits may be issued for a maximum of six (6) weeks. This provision will enable an individual to obtain a State temporary permit if the disability is expected to continue longer.

4. Persons with “Disabled” permits must pay to park in SMU-operated (private property) metered parking spaces.

5. An unauthorized vehicle in a space reserved for disabled persons will be towed away at the expense of the owner/operator.

6. Spaces designated for disabled persons may be used only by vehicles displaying an appropriate permit. The regulation applies AT ALL TIMES (24 hours a day, seven days a week). Vehicles improperly parked in such spaces will be towed away. A $300 FINE WILL BE CHARGED FOR EACH VIOLATION. THIS WILL BE IN ADDITION TO THE TOWING/BOOT CHARGE AND IMPOUNDMENT FEES.

NOTE: Article 6675a.5e.1, Vernon’s Texas Civil Statutes:

Section 10. (a) A person commits an offense if the person is neither temporarily or permanently disabled nor transporting a temporarily or permanently disabled person and parks a vehicle with such special device or displaying a disabled person identification card in a parking space or parking area designated specifically for the disabled by a political subdivision or by a person who owns or controls private property used for parking for which a political subdivision has provided for the application of this section under Subsection (c) of Section 6A of this Act.

Section 11. Presumption. In a prosecution of an offense under Section 10 of this Act, it is presumed that the registered owner of the motor vehicle that is the subject of the prosecution is the person who parked the vehicle at the time and place the offense occurred.

A Word on Construction

Due to the ongoing construction and maintenance in and around campus, changes in parking signage may occur abruptly thus changing the designations of Faculty/Staff, Resident, or Visitor parking without notice to the University Community.   The University asks that everyone use diligence and carefully observe the signs prior to parking.

Understanding Signs and Curbs

Parking signs are frequently posted or changed to meet the needs of the SMU community, so nearby signs should be read carefully each time when parking. There is not a sign for each space, but each space is in a zoned area.