Parking Policies

Automotive Vehicles on Campus

All student vehicles must be registered with the Campus Safety office each academic year. 

1. Students must provide the Campus Safety office with a copy of the vehicle registration, proof of auto insurance, and complete a registration card.

2. The registration cost is $140/academic year. Students may choose to have $70 billed to their student account per term or $140 fall term covering the entire academic year. Residents of Welling Townhouse, Paran Creek, and Longmeadow are exempt from paying the $140 registration fee.

3. Students who register their vehicles with the Campus Safety Office for the academic year prior to the first day of classes will have their name entered into a drawing to possibly win one of two premium parking spaces by their house for the term. This drawing will occur twice a year, fall term and again for spring term.

Non-Registered Vehicles

Non-registered vehicles located on campus will have their license plate logged by Campus Safety to include: date of parking, time of day, location of vehicle. Once a vehicle has been documented parking on campus three times during a term without a current registration visible, the vehicle will be secured in its parked location with a locking “boot” device. To have the device removed the person must contact the Campus Safety office and register the vehicle.

Parking

Students may only park in the large VAPA lot, Alabama lot or the Ohio lot. Students may park temporarily with the flashers on in a marked loading zone, not to exceed 45 minutes. If a vehicle is parked in a loading zone without the flashers on and/or in excess of 45 minutes the vehicle will be ticketed $25 every hour until moved. The ticket will include the date and time for each timed check (past 45 minutes). All other parking areas on campus are reserved for visitors, staff, and faculty. The only locations vehicles may park between the hours of 11pm-5am are the large VAPA lot (not in the circle), Alabama lot or the Ohio lot. If a student has a need to park in an area other than the large VAPA lot, Alabama lot or the Ohio lot they must receive advanced notice from the Campus Safety Office and will be issued a special, temporary permit. Students parking in visitor, staff, or faculty areas will be issued a $25 ticket each campus safety shift (8am-4pm, 4pm-12am, 12am-8am) the vehicle remains parked in the unauthorized area. All ticketed cars will be photographed parking in the violation area and logged into the Campus Safety reporting system documenting the time, date, location, vehicle license plate, and registration.

Failure to pay a parking ticket within 30 days of receipt may result in the vehicle being immobilized with a locking “boot” device, which will remain in place until the ticket(s) is paid in full. An additional fee of $50 may be added for administration of the boot device.

The Campus Safety Office does recognize some students may not feel comfortable walking across campus after dark. To support students in feeling safe on campus after dark any student may call Campus Safety and request an officer drive them from one on campus location to another, including Paran Creek Apartments and Welling Townhouse. This also applies when the temperature or windchill is excessively cold.

Parking Ticket Appeals

Students may appeal a parking ticket based on one of the following:

1. The vehicle in question was not parked in the area as indicated and date stamped photographic evidence is provided.

2. The student can produce a Campus Safety issued temporary parking permit for the area where parked, dated for the date the ticket was issued.

3. The student experienced a medical emergency and can provide appropriate medical documentation to demonstrate it occurred at the time the ticket was received.

Appeal forms are available in the Campus Safety office and should be returned to the Director of Campus Safety for consideration.

Fire Lanes, Grass Areas, and Signed Handicap Parking Spaces

All College streets, with the exception of the area immediately in front of the Faculty Row houses, including Human Resources, and the street immediately in front of Health Services, are considered fire lanes. Any vehicle parked in a fire lane will be towed at the owner’s expense. Registered vehicles will be towed to the Ohio parking lot and the vehicle owner will be billed for the expense. Unregistered vehicles will be towed to the towing company’s impound lot and the vehicle owner is responsible for all fees.

No parking is allowed on any grass area of the college. Any vehicle parked in a grass area of the College campus will be towed at the owner’s expense. Registered vehicles will be towed to the Ohio parking lot and the vehicle owner will be billed for the expense. Unregistered vehicles will be towed to the towing company’s impound lot and the vehicle owner is responsible for all fees.

Only vehicles with Bennington College temporary handicap permits or state issued handicap permits may park in a handicap parking space. All other vehicles parked in a handicap parking area will be towed at the owner’s expense and ticketed $100 per offense. Registered vehicles will be towed to the Ohio parking lot and the vehicle owner will be billed for the expense. Unregistered vehicles will be towed to the towing company’s impound lot and the vehicle owner is responsible for all fees.