ARTICLE 536

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY PERMIT PARKING

536.01 Purpose.
536.02 College/University Permit Parking Program.
536.03 Designation Criteria.
536.04 Issuance of Parking Permits.
536.05 Display of Permit.
536.06 Permit Parking Exemption.
536.07 Application for and Duration of Permit.
536.08 Permit Fees.
536.09 Revocation of Permit.
536.99 Penalties.

CROSS REFERENCES

536.01 PURPOSE.

The City Council of the City of Bethlehem considers it to be in the interest of the citizens of the City of Bethlehem to provide for the establishment of a College/University Permit Parking Program (CUPP) in order to alleviate the hardship experienced by college and university faculty and staff in obtaining on-street parking space, to preserve the quality of neighborhoods and to provide for improvement in air quality. The powers and duties as contained in this Article shall be performed by the Bethlehem Parking Authority (the "Parking Authority").

536.02 COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY PERMIT PARKING PROGRAM.

Upon request of a college or university, the Parking Authority is hereby authorized to designate, as herein provided, certain streets or parts thereof within the City of Bethlehem as College/University Permit Parking areas in which only vehicles displaying valid parking permits may stand or be parked during time periods established by the Parking Authority.

536.03 DESIGNATION CRITERIA.

An area shall be deemed impacted and thereby eligible for College/University Permit Parking provided that the following criteria are satisfied:

(a) All property on both sides of the designated street is owned or leased by the college or university; or written consent is obtained from all other property owners on the designated street; and

(b) The Parking Authority determines that the parking situation on the designated street is such that implementation of the permit program is necessary or convenient for the administration, supervision and enforcement of an efficient system of on-street parking regulation.

(c) City Council approves by resolution the designation of the street or part thereof for inclusion in the College/University Permit Parking Program.

536.04 ISSUANCE OF PARKING PERMITS.

The Parking Authority may authorize the issuance of appropriate permits by a college or university and shall cause parking signs to be erected in the area indicating the times and conditions under which parking shall be allowed. The college or university shall issue permits to the faculty and staff members upon application and payment of the applicable fees by the college or university and compliance with the terms of this Ordinance. The applicant shall set forth in the application the name, address, vehicle make, model and license number for each permit holder. Promptly upon issuance of a permit, the college or university shall provide the Parking Authority with a copy of the application therefor. The number of spaces designated for permit parking on a designated street shall not exceed 90% of the available on-street parking spaces on said street, which number shall be established by the Parking Authority. A separate permit shall be required for each motor vehicle. Commercial vehicles exceeding a gross weight of 10,000 pounds are not eligible for permits.

536.05 DISPLAY OF PERMIT.

Permits shall be displayed from either the rear bumper of a vehicle or from the rear view mirror on a vehicle so as to be readily visible to enforcement personnel.

536.06 PERMIT PARKING EXEMPTION.

A vehicle on which is displayed a valid parking permit as provided for herein shall be permitted to stand or be parked in the College/University Permit Parking area for which the permit has been issued during the time periods established by the Parking Authority. However, said vehicle shall not be exempt from parking restrictions or prohibitions established pursuant to authority other than this Article including Article 531, Stopping and Parking, Street Sweeping, of the Codified Ordinances as well as loading zones, five minute parking zones, handicapped zones and other special parking restrictions. All other motor vehicles parked within a College/University Permit Parking area shall be subject to the time restrictions adopted as provided in this Article as well as the penalties provided for herein.

A College/University Parking Permit shall not guarantee or reserve to the holder thereof an on-street parking space within the designated College/University Permit Parking area.

536.07 APPLICATION FOR AND DURATION OF PERMIT.

Each parking permit issued shall be valid for one (1) year from the date of issuance. Permits may be renewed annually upon reapplication in the manner required by the Parking Authority. Each application or reapplication for a parking permit shall contain information sufficient to identify the applicant, his residence address, and the license number of the motor vehicle for which application is made, and such other information that may be deemed relevant by the Parking Authority. If a permit holder sells or otherwise transfers a vehicle bearing a parking permit sticker, he or she shall remove the sticker before the transfer. If a permit holder transfers a vehicle bearing a valid permit parking sticker and acquires another vehicle, he or she shall provide the college or university which issued the permit with proof of the transfer and an affidavit attesting to the removal of the sticker. The college or university may then
provide a new sticker which will expire at the same time as the original sticker.

536.08 PERMIT FEES.

The initial cost for each College/University Parking Permit space shall be Seventy-five and 00/100 ($75.00) Dollars and each annual renewal cost will be Seventy-five and 00/100 ($75.00) Dollars. (Ord. 3691. Passed 6/20/95; Ord. 3885. Passed 6/2/98)

536.09 REVOCATION OF PERMIT.

The Parking Authority is authorized to revoke the College/University Parking Permit of any person found to be in violation of this Article and, upon written notification thereof, the person shall surrender such permit to the Parking Authority. Failure, when so requested, to surrender a College/University Parking Permit so revoked shall constitute a violation of law and of this Article.

536.99 PENALTIES.

(a) It shall be unlawful and a violation of this Article for a person to falsely represent himself as eligible for a parking permit or to furnish information in an application therefor.

(b) It shall be unlawful and a violation of this Article for a person holding a valid parking permit issued pursuant hereto to permit the use or display of such permit on a motor vehicle other than that for which the permit is issued. Such conduct shall constitute an unlawful act and violation of this Article both by the person holding the valid parking permit and the person who so uses or displays the permit on a motor vehicle other than that for which it is issued.

(c) It shall be unlawful and a violation of this Article for a person to copy, produce or otherwise bring into existence a facsimile or counterfeit parking permit in order to evade time limitations or parking applicable in a College/University Permit Parking area.

(d) For violation of any provisions contained in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Article the person committing the unlawful act shall be subject to the following penalties:

(1) First violation - A fine of $100.00, or thirty days imprisonment, or both;

(2) Second violation - A fine of $200.00, or sixty days imprisonment, or both;

(3) Third and each subsequent violation - A fine of $300.00, or ninety days imprisonment, or both.

The College/University Permit Parking Program shall remain in effect through June 2, 1999.* (Ord. 3427 - Passed 8/6/91, Ord. 3559 - Passed 7/6/93, Ord. 3627 - Passed 7/19/94, Ord. 3691 - Passed 6/20/95, Ord. 3754 - Passed 6/18/96, Ord. 3826 - Passed 6/17/97, Ord. 3870 - Passed 2/17/98, *Ord. 3885 - Passed 6/2/98).