Traffic Code

Operation of Vehicles:

The provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code are applicable to all vehicles operated on the campuses of Southwestern Illinois College. It is a violation for any operator to fail to comply with the provisions of the Illinois Vehicle Code or the provisions contained within this Southwestern Traffic Code. A traffic citation may be issued to anyone violating these provisions.

Operating a vehicle on the campuses of Southwestern Illinois College is a privilege. Southwestern Illinois College reserves the right to withdraw that privilege from those who repeatedly violate the established traffic laws and rules while on campus.

The following provisions apply to all vehicles:

1. All operators, regardless of type, shall obey all traffic control signs, directions, signals and/or voice commands given by a member of the Public Safety Department, civil law enforcement officers or emergency personnel.
2. Operators shall use directional signals as required by the Illinois Vehicle Code. During periods of darkness and when raining, headlights shall be on.
3. Vehicles shall not be driven in excess of posted speed limits.
4. Operators must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and in the driving lanes of parking lots.
5. Vehicles will be operated in a safe and careful manner at all times.
   Operators are strictly forbidden from:
1. Allowing another person to sit on or hang from a vehicle while the vehicle is inmotion.
2. Passing another vehicle inmotion on any road or in a parking lot.
3. Spinning, smoking or squealing of tires.

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Accidents and Abandoned Vehicles:

Accidents - Operators involved in an accident and/or witnesses to an accident on campus are to report the circumstances of the accident to the respective campus Public Safety Department or, at the Red Bud Campus, Administrative Office as soon as possible.

Abandoned Vehicles - Operators must notify the respective campus Public Safety Department or, in Red Bud, the Campus Administrative Office, prior to abandoning a vehicle for any reason on campus.

Inoperable vehicles will not be parked on roadways or the shoulder of any roadway so as to impede traffic flow without permission of the respective campus Public Safety Department or, in Red Bud, the Campus Administrative Office. Vehicles abandoned in excess of three (3) days may be towed at the owner’s expense. The disposition of abandoned vehicles will be in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 4, Article II, of the Illinois Vehicle Code.

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Public Safety Services:

The Public Safety Office provides vehicle jump-starts and access to locked vehicles. Southwestern Illinois College does not assume any liability for personal property damage when providing requested services.

Speed:

In the interest of protecting all of those who visit the college campuses, it is absolutely necessary for drivers to strictly obey posted speed limits and always drive at a speed that is prudent and safe for the existing conditions.

The maximum speed limit within parking lots on Southwestern campuses is 10mph unless otherwise posted.

Drivers may proceed at the maximum allowable speeds only under safe conditions.

Care must be taken when driving in the parking lots. The presence of pedestrians walking between parked cars, cars exiting parking spaces, and obstructed vision when making turns at the end of rows of parked cars make the parking lots particularly prone to accidents.

Drivers must be aware that there may always be dangers present due to pedestrians, traffic, weather or conditions of the road and/or parking lot surfaces.

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Parking Permits:

Parking is by permit only and parking permits are mandatory for all students, faculty and staff. The Public Safety Department issues permits. Permits remain the property of Southwestern Illinois College District No. 522.

Faculty and Staff Permits - Faculty and staff parking permits are required for parking in those parking spaces reserved for members of the faculty and staff. Those eligible to receive faculty and staff parking permits include full-time faculty and staff, part-time faculty and those part-time staff whose normal work week is at least 30 hours. Faculty and Staff permits are valid for the duration of employment.

Student Permits - Student permits will be issued to students and part-time staff not eligible for faculty and staff permits. Student permits are valid for the period registered as a student.

Temporary Parking Permits - Temporary parking permits are available for students, faculty, staff and visitors who require a parking permit for periods up to a year. Departments who are sponsoring a visitor must provide a description of the vehicle, name of the visitor, purpose and duration of the visit.

• Special Permits -
The permit is issued from Selsius and approved by the Public Safety Department.
1. The permits color is changed annually. Per the Bi-State Development Agency (Metro), St. Clair County Transit Authority and Southwestern Illinois College Agreement, LotM-2 overflow is designated asMetroLink/MetroBus overflow parking.

Displaying Permits - The annual permit for automobiles is a vinyl decal that must be affixed to the inside lower left corner of the rear window. The permit is easily peeled off and will not damage the defogger. Where affixing to the rear window may not be possible (convertibles, etc.) or if the window is darkly tinted the permit may be displayed in the lower right (passenger side) of the front windshield. Temporary permits must be displayed in the lower right (passenger side) of the dashboard. Motorcycle permits must be affixed to the front bumper, front left fork or lower right corner of the windshield.

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No Parking Areas:

The following areas are designated as no parking areas:

1. On any sidewalk.
2. On any grass area.
3. In front of or in amanner that restricts access to a fire hydrant.
4. In a manner that blocks, restricts or impedes full exit and/or entry of any door.
5. On any athletic field or area designed for athletic events only.
6. In amanner that blocks or restricts use of wheelchair ramps.
7. On any roadway or shoulder of any roadway unless so directed by a member of the Public Safety Department.
8. In any designated bus stop.
9. During an emergency, in any manner or area that restricts or impedes use ormovement of emergency equipment or vehicles.
10. In anymanner or area not designated as an authorized parking space.

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Parking Areas:

Authorized parking areas are established on each campus.

Handicapped Parking - Spaces are posted as handicapped parking only. Vehicles parked in handicapped parking spaces must display the Secretary of State- issued handicapped license plate or handicapped parking card.

Faculty and Staff Parking - Signs designate the reserved parking for faculty and staff.

Belleville Campus: Posted signs or pavement painted signs designate reserved parking for Faculty/Staff. Granite City Campus: The first row of parking adjacent to the front of the main building, the entire parking lot located outside the modular buildings, and the entire parking lot at the rear of the Industrial Training Center.

Red Bud Campus: There is no reserved parking for faculty and staff.

30-Minute Parking - Spaces are posted with 30 minute parking only signs.

Visitors Parking - Will be in designated parking for non-students &/or nonemployee or by special parking permit issued by the Public Safety Department

Special Permit - Selsius has been issued/allocated 24 spaces in the ISB to use and control. Selsius representative will provide the date and number of spaces required each day; however, a minimumof seven (7) spaces will remain open daily.

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Traffic Citations, Fines and Collections:

Traffic citations and complaints are issued to violators as official notifications of violations. The registered owners (for vehicles without a campus permit) and the registered operators (for vehicles with a campus permit) are responsible for violations involving their vehicles when the identity of the actual operators are unknown. A three part traffic citation form is used and distributed as follows:

Pink Copy - To Public Safety Department
White Copy - Placed on windshield, other noticeable area of the vehicle or mailed to registrant.

Fines are levied as prescribed below:

Non-Moving Violations Except Handicapped Parking: : 

$15.00

Handicapped Parking Violation:

$250.00

Payment of Fines - Fines are payable by mail or in person to the college business office or, in Red Bud, at the campus administrative office.

Non-payment of Fines - Unpaid fines may result in the withholding of college services such as future enrollment transcript requests, release of final grades and, when applicable, paychecks.

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Appeals:

Citations are only issued for clear violations of the Illinois Vehicle Code and this Southwestern Traffic Code. Recipients of citations may have the issuing officer’s decision reviewed if they have reason to believe that:

1. The citation received is not a violation of the Illinois or Southwestern Codes.
2. Sufficient mitigating or extenuating circumstances existed at the time of the violation to warrant a review of the issuing officer’s decision.

To initiate an appeal, the recipient of the citation must submit a written request for review of the citation to the respective campus supervisor of Public Safety or, in Red Bud, the campus administrator within thirty (30) days of the date of the violation. The supervisor or administrator will review the appeal. In so doing, the supervisor or administrator will consider the circumstances and all of the available information from the appellant and the issuing officer, and will consult with the Director of Public Safety as appropriate. The appellant will be notified of the decision of the Department of Public Safety.

The decision of the Department of Public Safety may be appealed to the Southwestern Traffic Appeal Board within thirty (30) days of the decision by the supervisor or administrator. The Board will consist of at least one college administrator, one instructor and one student representative. The Appeal Board shall meet to consider appeals when requested by the Director of Public Safety. The Board will have the authority to hear testimony from the appellant, the issuing officer and all other persons deemed necessary to render a fair and impartial decision. The Appeal Board will inform the appellant in writing of the decision. When the decision of the Appeal Board is that the appellant is to pay the fine, the cost of the fine will be as set forth in the Southwestern Traffic Code. The amount of the fine is determined by the offense and will be based upon the date that the written appeal is received by the Public Safety Supervisor.

Comments, suggestions and recommendations regarding the Southwestern Traffic Code are encouraged and should be addressed to the Director of Public Safety, Southwestern Illinois College.

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