Murray State University Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management

Violations, Fines, and Penalties

University Violations, Fines and Penalties

Any person violating traffic and parking regulations on the MSU campus shall be subject to the following penalties:

• No registration permit displayed - ($30) fine.
• Fire Lane -Parking in or blocking any portion of a fire lane or near a fire hydrant may result in towing and a ($45) fine. Ticket can not be appealed.
• Disability/blocking access-Parking in a disability space w/out MSU disability permit or blocking access to disability parking space including ramps and crosswalks ($45) fine. Individuals holding a valid disability permit  may appeal; otherwise, ticket can not be appealed.
• Parking in restricted areas, service vehicles, loading/unloading areas or striped areas- ($45) fine.
• False Registration ($45). Ticket can not be appealed.
• Possession lost/stolen permit-($50) fine. (Other sanctions may also apply - Loss of parking privileges, reimbursement of permit costs to person reporting loss of permit, and possible criminal charges, etc.) Ticket can not be appealed.
• Wrong zone; on grass; parked in drive; yellow curb; visitor zone; no parking zone; & improper display- ($15) fine. 24 hour enforcement.
• Blocked off with barricades and/or parking ribbon is a restricted area. Do not move the barricades or ribbon. Vehicles found in violation may be ticketed ($45) and towed. Ticket can not be appealed.

Vehicles may be towed for any of the following:

• blocking a legally parked vehicle
• double parking
• parking in or blocking any portion of a fire lane
• parking near a fire hydrant
• blocking dumpster access
• impeding traffic flow
• abandoned vehicle
• hazardous condition (gas leak, anti-freeze leak, transmission fluid leak, oil leak)
• blocking drive
• parking in loading/unloading zone
• parking in restricted areas
• parking on median, sidewalk, or grass
• parking in a no parking zone
• parking on yellow curbs or in striped areas

Parking zone enforcement will begin on the first day of scheduled classes. Yellow curbs, fire lanes, handicapped spaces, handicapped sidewalk access, restricted areas, etc. are enforced year-round even when classes are not in session.

Parking fines may be paid in person in the Cashier’s Office located in Sparks Hall.  Checks may be mailed either in campus mail without U.S. postage or in the U.S. mail with appropriate postage. Also for check payment, there are drop boxes at Public Safety; Curris Center Post Office; and outside Sparks Hall for convenience. Cash payments should be made in person at the Cashier’s Office (do not mail).

Outstanding fines must be paid before registration may be completed. The University will not furnish transcripts or credits until all fines are cleared. Payment of outstanding faculty-staff parking violations is a pre-requisite to registration of a vehicle.

The person to whom the permit is issued is responsible for all violations and payment of fines charged against the permit, regardless of the operator of the vehicle.

Reporting of a lost or stolen permit will require the taking of an affidavit. Falsely reporting an incident is a criminal act and may be dealt with in the criminal courts. If a permit is lost and later recovered, the permit is to be brought to Public Safety. The permit is not valid after an affidavit has been made.

Violation notices issued to unregistered vehicles or to vehicles not displaying the current university parking permit in the appropriate location will be traced through the state license bureau to the owner and/or operator

Penalties for violating University parking and traffic regulations can include, but are not limited to:

• Fines
• Suspension of campus driving and parking privileges

State Violations, Fines and Penalties

The following are offenses of Kentucky ’s Revised Statutes (KRS) and could result in criminal charges and prosecution:

1. Theft of a parking permit

• "A person is guilty of theft by unlawful taking or disposition when he unlawfully takes or exercises control over movable property of another with intent to deprive him thereof" (KRS 514.030 Theft by Unlawful Taking)
• Theft Under $300 is a Class A Misdemeanor
  • Penalty- Up to $500 fine and one year in jail – or both
• Theft Over $300 is a Class D Felony
  • Penalty- Up to $1000 fine and five years in prison – or both
    

2. Possession of a stolen parking permit

• "A person is guilty of receiving stolen property when he receives, retains or disposes of movable property of another knowing that it has been stolen, unless the property is received, retained or disposed of with intent to restore it to the owner" (KRS 514.110 Receiving Stolen Property)
• Possession Under $300 is a Class A Misdemeanor
  • Penalty- Up to $500 fine and one year in jail – or both
• Possession Over $300 is a Class D Felony
  • Penalty- Up to $1000 fine and five years in prison – or both
    

3. Possession of a lost parking permit

• "A person is guilty of theft of property lost, mislaid, or delivered by mistake when he comes into control of the property of another that he knows to have been lost, mislaid, or delivered by mistake as to the nature of the amount of the property or the identity of the recipient, and with intent to deprive the owner thereof, he fails to take reasonable measures to restore the property to a person entitled to it" (KRS 514.050 Theft of Property Lost, Mislaid, or Delivered by Mistake)
• Possession Under $300 is a Class A Misdemeanor
  • Penalty- Up to $500 fine and one year in jail – or both
• Possession Over $300 is a Class D Felony
  • Penalty- Up to $1000 fine and five years in prison – or both
    

4. Reproducing. altering, or counterfeiting a parking permit

• "A person is guilty of forgery in the third degree when, with intent to defraud, deceive, or injure another, he falsely makes, completes, or alters a written instrument" (KRS 516.040 Forgery 3rd Degree)
• Class A Misdemeanor
• Penalty- Up to $500 fine and one year in jail – or both
  

5. Possession of a permit that has been counterfeited or altered

• "A person is guilty of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the third degree when, with knowledge that it is forged and with intent to defraud, deceive, or injure another, he utters or possesses a forged instrument" (KRS 516.070 Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument 3rd Degree)
• Class A Misdemeanor
• Penalty- Up to $500 fine and one year in jail – or both
  

6. Display/Use of someone else’s handicap permit

• "No person shall make, issue, possess, or knowingly use any imitation, counterfeit, or transferable placard or license plate for a person with a disability" (KRS 189.459(3) Counterfeiting Handicap Placard or License Plate)
• Violation
• Penalty- Up to $250 fine

7. Not having insurance

• "Every owner or operator of a motor vehicle registered in this Commonwealth or operated in this Commonwealth with an owner's permission shall continuously provide with respect to the motor vehicle while it is either present or registered in this Commonwealth, and any other person may provide with respect to any motor vehicle, by a contract of insurance or by qualifying as a self-insurer, security for the payment of basic reparation benefits in accordance with this subtitle and security for payment of tort liabilities, arising from maintenance or use of the motor vehicle" (KRS 304.39-080 Failure to Maintain Insurance)
• First Offense is a Class B Misdemeanor
  • Penalty- $500 to $1000 fine and 90 days in jail – or both as well as vehicle registration revoked for 1 year
• Second or Greater Offense is a Class A Misdemeanor
  • Penalty- $1000 to $2500 fine and 180 days in jail – or both as well as operator’s license revoked for 6 months