Parking & Security Services
Security Services
For your safety and protection, Houston Community College (HCC) police officers are on duty 24-hours a day. The HCC Police Department consists of State of Texas commissioned officers who strive to maintain a safe and inviting work environment.
Some of the HCS Police Department responsibilities at 3100 Main include:
- Patrolling the exterior and interior and monitoring students, employees, tenants
and visitors.
- Controlling traffic, which may include accident investigation and issuing parking
violations
- Locking and unlocking doors – interior and exterior.
- Accompanying students, employees, tenants and visitors to classrooms,
offices and/or vehicles when they feel unsafe and request these services.
- Assisting with unlocking vehicles when keys have been locked inside.
- Police officers assist with these requests as a courtesy and respond in order of priority and level of emergency. If security services are required, please call 713.718-8888. In the event of a crime or other emergency, the Houston Police Department should be notified first by dialing 911.
Parking Procedures
The Board of Trustees and The Texas Education Code Section 51.202 allows HCC to promulgate rules and regulations for the safety and welfare of students, employees, tenants and property. The chancellor is authorized by the Board of Trustees to implement and modify the following parking and traffic procedures and other related procedures as necessary.
(1) Limiting the rate of speed.
(2) Assigning parking spaces and designating parking areas and their use and assessing a charge for parking.
(3) Prohibiting parking as it deems necessary.
(4) Removing vehicles parked in violation of college rules and regulations or law at the expense of the violator.
(5) Instituting a system of registration for vehicle identification, including a reasonable charge.
(6) All faculty, staff, students, tenants and visitors parking a vehicle on HCC lots must comply with the parking regulations, policies and procedures.
General Information
The chancellor has delegated the responsibility to implement parking and traffic controls to the Houston Community College Police Department. During emergencies and special occasions, police may impose additional parking restrictions. Conversely, the police may waive parking restrictions that are ordinarily in effect if the need arises. The college will take the steps necessary to ensure unimpeded flow of traffic and compliance with parking rules. This includes levying fines and penalties and the right to tow any vehicle that is parked in a manner that constitutes a hazard or is in violation of college traffic procedures or state law.
Registration of Vehicles
I. All students, tenants and employees of HCC who park on college property must register their vehicles, including motorcycles, with the Police/Security Office. The Police Department will be the custodian of record for all parking permits.
II. Student parking permits must be affixed on the driver’s side rear window where security personnel can see it and may park in any spaces except those designated as "reserved." Hanging permits must be suspended from the rearview mirror and may be transferred to other vehicles as long as all vehicles are registered. The issuance of a parking permit does not guarantee anyone a parking space; however, employees who have paid for a reserved covered or surfaced parking space will be guaranteed a space.
Parking Regulations
I. Identification of Valid Parking Spaces
A. Valid Parking Spaces – Park your vehicle in a valid parking space, headed in, between the lines.
B. Designated Reserved Parking Spaces – These spaces or areas are reserved for individuals, departments and/or shops. Unauthorized vehicles parked in these areas will be cited and may be towed at the violator’s expense.
C. No Parking Areas – Parking will be permitted only in areas identified as a valid parking space.
D. Yellow or Red Curbs – Parking is prohibited in areas with yellow or red markings indicating fire lanes and no parking areas.
E. Handicap Parking Spaces – Only vehicles with the properly displayed handicap parking permit will be allowed to park in the reserved handicap spaces.
II. Driver Responsibility
A. Finding Authorized Space – Drivers are responsible for finding an authorized parking space.
B. Owner Responsibility – Vehicles are the responsibility of the owner and citations issued to illegally parked vehicles will be the responsibility of the owner.
C. Space Availability – Admittance into the parking garage does not guarantee the driver a parking space, but only an opportunity based on availability.
D. Reserved Parking – For reserved parking areas, parking is restricted 24 hours a day, seven days a week for reserved spaces, tenant spaces and commercial parking spaces.
E. Storage of Vehicle/Abandoned/Derelict Vehicles – The college reserves the right to tow vehicles that remain on college property in an inoperative, derelict or abandoned condition and/or vehicles that are not in compliance with state regulations. College parking facilities may not be used for long-term storage.
F. Speed Limit – The maximum permissible speed limit in the parking garage shall be 15 miles per hour.
Campus Police
HCC police officers may cite and/or tow for the following violations:
Parking Violations
1. No valid HCC parking permit.
2. Illegally parked in a handicap space.
3. Parking in a no parking zone.
4. Illegally parked in a reserved space.
5. Blocking a legally parked vehicle.
6. Parking on the sidewalk.
7. Occupying two parking spaces.
8. Removing, damaging, or altering any traffic or parking sign or barrier.
9. Blocking or parking in any access drive or driveway.
10. Other violations as stated.
Moving Violations
1. Exceeding the 5-mph speed limit in any HCCS parking garage or lot.
2. Failure to stop at stop signs.
3. Driving a vehicle in the wrong direction of a one-way street.
4. Any other violation as defined in the Texas motor vehicle laws.
Parking Violations/Fines/Towing
Violations of any parking regulations are subject to a ticket and fine as follows:
$5 fine and subject to tow for:
-
- Parking incorrectly by failing to park within lines of marked parking spaces.
$25 fine and subject to tow for:
-
- Parking in loading zones, building and/or service entrances and crosswalks.
- Parking in, blocking or hindering traffic in a driveway, aisle-way or non-designated parking area.
$50 fine and subject to tow for:
-
- Parking in a space designated for the disabled, without a proper HCC or state permit.
- Parking/leaving a vehicle unattended, with or without flashers on, in a fire lane, fire exit or within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
- Parking in an invalid parking space or in a no parking zone.
- Parking in reserved, tenant and commercial parking spaces.
Ticket Appeal Procedure
A parking ticket may be appealed only by filing a completed online appeals form. It must be filed within 3 working days from the day the ticket was received. Parking ticket appeals are directed to the director of building/college operations, or designee, for disposition.
Payment of Fines
Fines will be paid at the college business office where the ticket was received. If a fine is paid within 5 working days, the fine will be reduced by 50% except for illegally parking in a handicap or reserved parking space. Receipts are to be taken to the Police/Security Office and the Police Department will record the fine as being paid. Unpaid tickets that are not appealed will handled accordingly:
1. Students who do not pay their tickets within 10 working days may have their parking privileges revoked and their college transcript withheld until payment is received.
2. Tickets issued to faculty/staff that are not appealed or paid within 10 working days will be referred to the appropriate administrator and may have their parking privileges revoked until payment is received.
3. Tickets issued to tenant employees that are not appealed or paid within 10 working days may have their parking privileges revoked until payment is received.
4. All moving and handicap violations may be adjudicated in the nearest justice of
the peace court or municipal court as authorized by state law.
Vehicle Access at 3100 Main
Access to the parking garage may be gained by entering the Elgin Street entrance. Any cardholder may use his or her proximity card to either raise a traffic barrier or open the gate, depending on the time of entry. Non-cardholders will pull a ticket, imprinted with the time and date of entry, from a machine that will automatically raise the traffic barrier. When exiting the parking garage, cardholders will be required to submit to a similar procedure to that encountered on entry. If an access card has been used, an anti-passback feature prevents a card from being used again to authorize entry of a second vehicle before the first vehicle has exited the parking garage. Non-cardholders may be required to make a payment at the automated payment machine before exiting.
3100 Main Parking Garage Information
Directions in and out: The Elgin Street entrance consists of three lanes; two lanes will be used for entering and one lane for exiting. The Stuart Street exit consists of two lanes for exiting only. The Stuart Street entrance will close at 6 p.m. and only contract parking may exit through Stuart Street by using a proximity card.
1. The parking garage will be manned from Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2. The parking garage will be equipped with an intercom system located on the inside and outside of each parking entrance and at the garage side of the skybridge, leading into the building. The activation of the intercom system will notify security.
3. The parking garage will have a proximity card access gate.
4. The parking garage will be patrolled by mobile units, bike units and foot patrols.
5. The parking garage will be equipped with fire extinguishers throughout.
6. The parking garage will be well lit, with clearly marked crosswalks for pedestrian
traffic.
7. Access to the building from the parking garage will be by way of the skybridge, located on the 3rd floor of the parking garage, connecting to the 2nd floor of the building.
8. The HCC Police Department will provide a security escort for anyone who wants to be accompanied to cars or to other areas of the building.
Parking Fees
Parking fees are as follows:
General Parking
HCC employees and students at all facilities: no charge
HCC guests or invitees at 3100 Main: visitor rates ($3/visit)
Reserved Parking
HCC Board members: no charge
HCC employees parking at 3100 Main: $50/month
HCC employees parking on reserved surface lots: $12/month
HCC departments and colleges are responsible for validating complimentary parking stamps for visitors. HCC employees may pay through automatic payroll deduction.
Permit Designation
Color designation for the permits below will be established at the beginning of each school year, valid from September 1 through August 31 of each school year.
Reserved Covered Parking (R/C)
HCC faculty/staff and 3100 Main tenants
Restricted parking in designated lot in assigned space reserved 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, except on scheduled maintenance.
Reserved Surface Lot Parking (R/S)
HCC faculty/staff
Restricted parking in designated lot in assigned space reserved 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, except on scheduled maintenance.
Unreserved Covered Parking (U/C)
HCC faculty/staff and 3100 Main tenants
Allows parking in the 3100 Main and Fine Arts parking garages 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, except on scheduled maintenance.
Unreserved Surface or Rooftop Parking (U/S)
HCC faculty/staff and 3100 Main tenants
Allows parking on any HCC parking lot and rooftop parking at the 3100 Main and Fine Arts parking garages 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, except on scheduled maintenance.
Student General Parking
Students only
Allows parking on any HCC parking lot or garage, 7 days/week, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
