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General Provisions

The words and phrases defined in this section have the meaning indicated when used in this Ordinance, unless the context clearly requires another meaning:

  1. “Abandoned Bicycle/Vehicle” means any Bicycle or Vehicle that has been parked illegally for more than ten days or which is determined to be “derelict” or inoperable under G.S. § 20-137.7.
  2. “Bicycle” means every device propelled, at least in part by human power, upon which any person may ride, and supported by either two tandem or three wheels, one of which is sixteen inches or more in diameter. For the avoidance of doubt, Bicycle includes “electric assist Bicycle” or “e-bike”. For the purpose of this Ordinance, a Bicycle is a Vehicle.
  3. “Board” means the Board of Trustees of the University.
  4.  “Booting” means to immobilize a Vehicle using a device designed to be attached to the rear tire or wheel to render the Vehicle inoperable.
  5. “Campus” means all property that is owned or leased in whole or in part by the State and subject to the general oversight of the Board excepting and excluding:  (a) property leased to another not located within one of the areas set out in Section 3-3; (b) the University Lake watershed; and (c) property held for use as an official residence for administrative officers of the University.
  6. “Chancellor” means the Chancellor of the University.
  7. “e-Skateboard” means a skateboard with an electric motor for propulsion and a remote control.
  8. “Electric Two-Wheeled Vehicle” means any Motorized Two-Wheeled Vehicle that is propelled by means of a battery powered motor, including, without limitation, Segways, and electric standup scooters. For the avoidance of doubt, Electric Two-Wheeled Vehicle does not include electric assist bicycles.
  9. “Electric Vehicle” means any Vehicle that is propelled, partially or exclusively, by means of a battery powered motor.
  10. “General Statutes” or “G.S.” means the General Statutes of the State.
  11. “Internal Combustion Two-Wheeled Vehicle” means any Motorized Two-Wheeled Vehicle that is propelled by means of an internal combustion motor, including, without limitation, Motorcycles, mopeds, motorbikes, and scooters.
  12. “Main Campus” means the portion of the Campus where the Old Well is located and all other portions of Campus contiguous thereto by University ownership or lease that are north of Fordham Boulevard. For purposes of illustration, this definition is intended to include the portions of Campus commonly referred to as “North Campus” and “South Campus,” and exclude, without limitation, the portions of Campus commonly referred to as “Carolina North,” the “Mason Farm Property,” and “University Lake.”
  13. “Motorcycle” means any Motorized Two-Wheeled Vehicle capable of carrying a rider and capable of speeds greater than 15 miles per hour.
  14. “Motorized Two-Wheeled Vehicle” means any two-wheeled (or three-wheeled) Vehicle that is self-propelled by means of an internal combustion motor or a battery powered motor, and is capable of carrying passenger(s), including, without limitation, Internal Combustion Two-Wheeled Vehicles and Electric Two-Wheeled Vehicles.
  15. “Park” means to leave a Vehicle unattended by any person authorized to, or capable of, moving it immediately upon the direction of a law enforcement or parking control officer. Activated hazard lights, a running engine, or a note displayed on a Vehicle do not render a Vehicle “attended.”
  16. “Parking Coordinator” means a department-assigned staff member who acts as a liaison with the University’s Department of Transportation and Parking.
  17. “Parking Permit” means any identification assigned by the Department of Transportation and Parking to be either displayed on a Vehicle or virtual permit (via registered license plate) for parking legally on the Campus.
  18. “State” means the State of North Carolina and all political subdivisions, including the University.
  19. “State-owned Vehicles” are all Vehicles, including service Vehicles, owned by the State or any political subdivision thereof.
  20. “Street, Highway, or Roadway” means the entire width of a corridor designed or marked by proper authorities for vehicular traffic.
  21. “Student” means any person registered with the University as a full-time, part-time, graduate, or other special student. This does not include employees of the University who are in a full-time permanent position and subject to the SHRA or EHRA guidelines.
  22. “T&P” or “Department” means the University’s Department of Transportation and Parking which is responsible for, among other things: transportation planning, transit services, enforcement of rules and regulations for parking and traffic, registration of vehicles, distribution of permits, issuance of parking penalties, collections of transportation receipts and the upkeep, renovations and construction of transportation facilities.
  23. “University” means The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  24. “Vehicle” means any device in, upon, or by which a person is or may be transported or drawn upon a roadway, except (a) other devices moved exclusively by human power or used exclusively upon fixed rails or tracks, or (b) devices used as a means of transportation by a person with a mobility impairment and limited by design to a top speed of no more than 15 miles per hour.
  25. “Visitor” means any individual other than a Student or employee of either the University or UNC Health and any of their contract or temporary employees or non-University/corporate partners.
  26. “Weekend” means 5:01 p.m. Friday through 7:29 a.m. Monday.
  27. “Weeknight” means 5:01 p.m. to 7:29 a.m., Monday through Thursday.
  1. The laws of Chapter 20 of the General Statutes and associated regulations relating to the use of Highways of the State and the operation of motor vehicles thereon apply to all Streets and parking facilities on University property.
  2. Pursuant to G.S. § 116-44.4, the Board may exercise discretion and authority in a manner as to assure the proper conduct of the necessary business of the University and the effective utilization and control of transportation and parking functions on Campus, including, but not limited to, the adoption and promulgation of rules and regulations, taking emergency actions to protect the health and safety of the University community, and establishing administrative procedures as they may deem necessary or advisable for the administration, interpretation, and enforcement of this Ordinance. The Chancellor is responsible for implementing and operationalizing this Ordinance. In response to events or circumstances that may significantly impact Campus or to protect the health, safety, or well-being of Students, employees, or Visitors, the Chancellor may issue exceptions to regulations within this Ordinance, issue temporary regulations, suspend enforcement of parking regulations for the benefit of Visitors, Students, and/or employees, authorize or deny the use of or closing of Campus Streets and parking lots, remove Vehicles from closed Streets and/or parking lots, or suspend enforcement of parking regulations to allow for events on Campus. Exceptions to regulations, temporary regulations, and enforcement suspensions are valid only for when and how specified and are not considered precedent for future situations. In the event that any temporary suspension of the Ordinance is in effect for more than 10 consecutive business days, the Chancellor will notify the Board, and the Board will take such action as may be appropriate.
  3. The Chancellor may delegate responsibilities for implementing and operationalizing this Ordinance to the Director of the Department and/or other designees.
  4. In-office and virtual customer service functions of the Department are available from 7:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on University-recognized holidays and as otherwise posted. Regulations may be enforced at any time deemed necessary by special event activities or other circumstances.
  5. More information about the operations and processes outlined in this Ordinance may be found on the Department’s website

This Ordinance shall be publicly posted pursuant to G.S. § 116-44.4(k). Once posted, this Ordinance restrictions are always in effect unless otherwise stated.

The Chancellor, through their designee(s), shall post copies of this Ordinance and regulations issued pursuant hereto on the Department’s website.

Pursuant to § 116-44.4(l), a copy of this Ordinance and all regulations issued hereunder, except temporary police regulations, shall be filed in and with:

  1. the Office of the President of The University of North Carolina; and
  2. the Office of the North Carolina Secretary of State.

The University assumes no liability or responsibility for damage or theft to any Vehicle, other device moved by human power, or device used as a means of transportation by a person with a mobility impairment parked in or on University properties subject to the jurisdiction or control of the Board. The provisions of this Ordinance apply to all operators of all Vehicles, public and private, and the provisions are enforced twenty-four (24) hours a day except as otherwise specified by this Ordinance. It is unlawful for any operator to violate any of the provisions of this Ordinance except as otherwise permitted by the Ordinance or General Statutes.

The operator of any Vehicle or other device moved by human power shall obey the lawful instruction of any law enforcement officer, parking control officer, official traffic signs or control devices appropriately placed, and in accordance with provisions of this Ordinance.

The Chancellor and their designee(s) will cooperate with all law enforcement authorities of the State and its political subdivisions in enforcing this Ordinance and issuing regulations hereunder. If the Town of Chapel Hill enacts an ordinance that, pursuant to G.S. § 116-44.5, supersedes any portion of this Ordinance or any regulation issued hereunder, the Chancellor’s designee(s) will, upon receiving a copy of such ordinance from the Town Clerk, immediately cause to be removed all parking meters, signs, and other devices or markings erected or placed on a public street by authority of the superseded regulation(s).

When a Vehicle is found to be in violation of this Ordinance, the Department will presume the Vehicle was parked by:

  1. the person to whom the University parking permit for the Vehicle is registered;
  2. if no parking permit has been issued for the Vehicle, the person or entity in whose name the Vehicle is registered with the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles or the corresponding agency of another state or nation; or
  3. any relation of the registered owner enrolled in or employed with the University or UNC Health.

The prima facie rule of evidence established by this Section 1-8 does not apply to the registered owner of a leased or rented Vehicle when said owner can furnish evidence that the Vehicle was, at the time of the parking violation, leased, or rented to another person. In such instance, the owner of the Vehicle must, within reasonable time after notification of the parking violation, furnish the Department via telephone, email, in person, or US mail with the name and address of the person or company who leased or rented the Vehicle.

All moneys received pursuant to this Ordinance, except for the clear proceeds of civil penalties that are required to remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund in accordance with G.S. § 115C-457.2, shall be placed in trust accounts and may be used for the following purposes:

  1. to defray the cost of administering and enforcing this Ordinance and Chapter 116, Article 1, Part 6 of the General Statutes;
  2. to develop, maintain, and supervise parking facilities;
  3. to provide bus service or other transportation systems and facilities, including payments to any public or private transportation system serving University students or employees;
  4. as a pledge to secure revenue bonds for parking facilities issued under Chapter 116, Article 21, of the General Statutes; and/or
  5. for any other purpose related to parking, traffic, and transportation on the Campus as authorized by the Chancellor or their designee(s).

Except as expressly permitted by this Ordinance, it is unlawful for any person to park a Vehicle:

  1. on the Campus; or
  2. on those portions of the following streets in the Town of Chapel Hill where parking is not prohibited by the ordinance(s) of the Town of Chapel Hill:
    1. both sides of Battle Lane for its entire length;
    2. both sides of South Road from Country Club Road to South Columbia Street;
    3. both sides of Country Club Road from Raleigh Street to South Road;
    4. both sides of Raleigh Street for its entire length;
    5. both sides of Pittsboro Street for its entire length;
    6. both sides of Boundary Street from East Franklin Street to Country Club Road;
    7. both sides of Park Place for its entire length;
    8. both sides of South Columbia Street from East Franklin Street to Manning Drive;
    9. both sides of Cameron Avenue from Raleigh Street to South Columbia Street;
    10. both sides of McCauley Street from South Columbia Street to Pittsboro Street;
    11. both sides of Ridge Road between Country Club Road and Manning Drive; and
    12. all sidewalks.

Nothing in this Ordinance shall be construed as recognition by the Board as a prescriptive easement in any street specifically named herein.