1AM permits – Permits allocated to executive-level administrators and distinguished professors. This permit allows parking in University Business spaces, service spaces, loading docks, all unnumbered spaces, and visitor pay areas without the usual costs.

12th Man Parking - The parking program used during football game days for those individuals with special parking privileges allotted to them by the 12th Man Foundation. 12th Man designated lots must be vacated the night before by occupants without the appropriate 12th Man permit.

Access Card - A credit card sized device issued to authorized TAMU affiliated persons, used to gain access to controlled access lots.

Adjudicator – The person or persons designated by the department to read, research, evaluate, and come to a decision concerning all appeals that are filed regarding citations.

Administrative Relocation - The relocation of a vehicle for the purpose of gaining access to the physical space occupied by the vehicle. There is not a charge to the owner of the vehicle that is relocated unless it is parked illegally.

Administrative Office – The portion of this department where the administrative personnel are located, currently at 702 University Drive E, Building E. The administrative personnel are responsible for the daily planning, accounting, operation, public relations, and policies of this department. This office contains the director of this department, associate directors, human resources, communications and information technology staff.

Allocation - Refers to an authorization for a specific parking assignment.

Altered/Forged Permits – Any permit that has been tampered with, modified, or counterfeited from a valid TAMU permit.

APD – An acronym for Automatic Payroll Deduction. This system automatically withdraws a certain amount from a budgeted employee’s paycheck to pay for their parking permit as they use it rather than paying for the entire cost of permit when it is purchased. The amount to be taken out depends on factors such as the pay cycle of a 12-month versus 9-month employee and the original total price of the permit being paid for through APD.

Appeal - A written dispute over a parking citation.

Anti-Passback – A function of the controlled access system that requires an access device to be used in an entrance reader before it can be used in an exit reader and vice versa. This function will deactivate any access device that is not used in the appropriate sequence.

Automatic Pay Station - A machine that accepts payment and validates pay-parking access tickets without cashier assistance. These machines accept bills or coins. These machines are also known as "Pay-On-Foot.”

Billable - An individual who is enrolled at TAMU for at least one credit hour during the current Transportation Services ticket billing cycle.

Booting - When enforcement immobilizes a vehicle by placing a wheel lock on the front driver's side tire to encourage the vehicle owner to make payment of all fees and/or fines owed to the university.

Citation - A written instrument, usually generated by a hand-held computer, which documents the circumstances of a parking violation and the charges owed, if any, to the department. People often refer to a citation as a ticket.

Commuter Student - A person currently enrolled as a student but not assigned to campus housing.

Congress Ticket – An access ticket which provides exit and entry for a specified number of times or time period for use in the pay lots. (Also known as the "come and go" ticket)

Connect - When a license plate number or parking permit is found to belong to a university affiliate.

Contract Area – Refers to an area within a parking garage where permits are required and visitors cannot park.

Controlled Access Facility - Any surface lot or parking garage that requires an access device or the pulling of an access ticket to gain access.

Customer Assistance Center - the interface for parking transactions and customers with parking inquiries, comments, or complaints. Located in 108 Koldus.

Customer Assistance Representatives – Staff located in 108 Koldus who communicate directly with customers and facilitate interactions with either themselves or others within the department that address the customers’ concerns with citations, parking conditions, and anything else that may require this department’s attention. They are also responsible for disseminating any information deemed helpful to this department’s customers.

Debit Ticket - A citation issued to vehicles parked overnight in a pay lot used to track the length of time a vehicle has been parked and to help remind the customer of fees owed before they try to exit the facility without having an exit ticket.

Departmental Parking Representative - The DPR is responsible for assisting the Zone Administrator. Their duties include assigning parking allocations, advising new employees of parking procedures and parking regulations, maintaining accurate parking records, and prioritizing parking for individuals within their department.

Disabled – A physical or mental condition verified by a physician that substantially limits mobility and therefore entitles an individual to unique parking privileges.

Disabled Parking Permit – A county-issued disabled parking permit may be used in conjunction with a Texas A&M parking permit to authorize the bearer to park in any designated disabled parking space or unrestricted space within any lot. This rule does not apply to airport parking.

Dispatch – The portion of the enforcement area within this department that coordinates the activities and communications of the parking services officers.

Dry Seal - A parking permit in the form of a sticker that adheres to the lower passenger side of the front windshield. (Typically used on convertible vehicles.)

Enforcement – The portion of this department charged with the execution of the parking rules and regulations as determined by the administrators of this department. Persons often associated with this area of the department include but are not limited to: parking services officers, dispatch, and SCAN officers.

Exit Grace Time - Time allowed to exit a pay area after payment. If the grace time is exceeded additional payment will be required.

Faculty - Anyone affiliated with the University by employment for the purpose of teaching and/or research.

Fire Lane - An area designated by the university to remain clear of vehicles and obstacles to provide clear and quick access to university buildings by emergency vehicles. These areas are indicated by red painted curbs and/or fire lane signs.

Fleet Leasing – The portion of this department responsible for the acquisition, use, and maintenance of sedans and vans for use by university affiliates. This body leases/checks out vehicles at their disposal for use by personnel conducting some type of university business.

Gated Area - Any lot on campus, secured by a gate, requiring a specific code or access device to gain entry.

Handicap Parking Space - Usually designated by the universal handicap symbol on a sign posted in front of the space. These areas provide parking on campus to any vehicle displaying a handicap permit and a TAMU parking permit.

Handicap Access Aisle - An area adjacent to a handicap parking space usually marked with striped lines. These areas should remain clear of vehicles and obstacles at all times to provide easy access for disabled individuals entering and exiting their vehicles.

Impound - To confiscate a vehicle either by booting or towing for the purpose of retrieving delinquent fines or fees due to the university.

Loading Zone - An area designated with a sign, curb paint, or by an actual loading dock that provides temporary parking to load/unload. When utilizing a loading area, the vehicle owner must be actively engaged in loading or unloading and may not remain in the area longer than 15 minutes.

Lost/Stolen Permit – Any permit that has been reported to the department, as per the owner’s wishes, to no longer be a valid permit. This situation occurs most often when the owner loses their permit for whatever the reason and needs to obtain another valid permit. Anyone found to be using a “Lost/Stolen” permit will receive substantial fines and their vehicle may also be towed and held until the permit in question can be retrieved by the department.

Merchant Tickets - A ticket pulled at a pay parking area and validated by an authorized TAMU fiscal entity to allow the bearer to then take it to the remote cashiers to get a time stamp that lets the bearer exit the pay area.

Nested Area - A controlled access lot within another controlled access lot. This refers to places such as contract levels or priority bays within a garage.

Night Parking Privileges – Parking privileges extended after a certain time of the day which allows customers to use their permit to park in an area other than the lot to which they have been assigned.

Non-billable - An individual that has been previously enrolled or billable but who is not currently able to be associated with a billable person for the purpose of assessing fees, fines, or other charges.

Numbered Space - Any parking space contracted to an individual which is reserved 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, except when University events require the use of the space. These spaces are identified by painted numbers on the curb and pavement.

One-Shot - A pay area pre-coded ticket designed to raise a gate one time, and then be discarded.

Overstay - Term for a contract vehicle remaining on the visitor’s level of a parking garage for more than 15 minutes. Contract vehicles must proceed to either exit the parking garage or continue on to their contracted area before the 15 minute interval.

Lots - A lot designated for the use of specific members of the faculty and staff who display a permit valid for that lot.

Pay-On-Foot Station - See Automatic Pay Station

Placard – An 8” x 11” sheet of paper specially designed by the department to serve a permit. These sheets are issued for any number of different purposes as deemed necessary by the department. These placards are to be displayed on the driver’s side of the dashboard and are only valid for the uses printed on them.

Prepaid Parking - Arrangements made for parking in a pay area. Usually associated with conferences and accomplished through the use of "congress tickets." (Sometimes known as “Reserved Parking”)

Priority Bay - A small nested parking area at the lowest level of a parking garage.

PSO - Parking Services Officer – These men and women work within the Enforcement area of the department and are charged with responsibilities that the department feels necessary to accomplish their portion of the department’s mission. Their duties often include, but are not limited to, citing vehicles, the relocation of vehicles, and the direction of traffic.

Public Nuisance Vehicles - In addition to displaying a valid permit, all vehicles parked on university property must be lawfully registered, inspected and capable of legal operation. Vehicles that are inoperable or appear to be abandoned will be removed from university property at the owner’s expense. Vehicles are not to be used as storage areas or for any other use which is not consistent with the efficient operation of the university. Vehicles that emit unreasonable noise or odor; leak fluid or create a similar disturbance shall be declared a nuisance and the vehicle will be removed at the owner’s expense. Nuisance vehicles may be removed even though they display a valid parking permit.

Reduced Citation - A citation fine reduced by the appeal panel.

Release - The process of removing a wheel lock or granting permission to the wrecker company to let the owner obtain their vehicle when they have cleared all balances owed to the department.

Relocate - To tow a vehicle from one area on campus to another due to violation or emergency need for the space. In the case of a violation, a fine is assessed to cover the actual cost of the relocation.

Relocation Citation - A ticket issued to a vehicle relocated on campus due to a parking violation.

Remote Cashiering – An administrative unit within the department, charged with the cash handling functions for the pay lots.

Reserved Lot – See Lots

Reserved Parking – See Prepaid Parking

Resident Student - A person currently enrolled as a student and assigned to campus housing.

Re-sync - The process of reactivating an access device that is out of sequence, usually by the cardholder overstaying on the visitor’s level of a garage or by being vended at one of the entrances or exit gates.

Service Space - A parking space on campus reserved 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for vehicles displaying service or business permits.

SIMS - Student Information Management System, used throughout campus, this computer system is the central student database at TAMU.

Special Event Parking - Parking reserved normally in the visitor pay lots for such events as graduation, sporting events, OPAS, move in/move out, etc.

Staff - The personnel employed by the TAMU system who assist in performing the business of the university not associated with teaching, research, or lecturing.

Standing - A condition where a vehicle is stopped but attended by the operator. Standing vehicles are usually found where the vehicle operator is waiting to load/unload passengers or cargo in an area not approved for parking.

Student - A person who is enrolled for the current semester.

Thirty Minute Spaces/ Timed Spaces - Parking lots on campus limited to a specified amount of time and intended for short term parking only. These spaces are designated by signs and/or painted markings on the curb/space which indicate the period of time someone may park in the space. These areas are strictly enforced to ensure their availability.

Ticket Spitter - The device located at the entrance to pay lots, which dispenses time marked tickets used to determine fees owed upon exiting the area.

Ticket Writer - A hand-held computer with a printer that dispenses parking citations.

TIRIS - A proximity reader system that opens gate arms without entering a card in the card reader. This system consists of a transponder disc that makes use of a suction device to adhere to a windshield.

Tow - The removal of a vehicle from campus to an off campus location.

Tow Release - An occurrence when a tow or relocation is in progress and the vehicle's operator arrives at the vehicle. In rare instances, the vehicle may be released to the owner; however, a release citation is issued to cover the time and services of the wrecker company.

Traffic Control - The act performed by parking services officers to alleviate vehicular congestion during peak traffic times and special events.

Transient - An individual that pays each time they use a parking facility, also known as a visitor.

Transit – The portion of this department charged with acquiring, running, and maintaining/servicing the buses owned by this department. As part of their duties they are responsible for maintaining a system of on and off campus bus routes that serve the people of TAMU. People associated with this effort include but are not limited to: bus drivers, bus dispatch workers, trainers, maintenance workers, and clerical staff/supervisors.

Transponder - The device, such as a wand, disc, or card that is read by TIRIS to open a gate arm.

Transportation Center - The portion of this department that houses entities such as Transit, Fleet, maintenance personnel, and any other person or persons associated with the mission to provide reliable and safe transportation to the affiliates of TAMU.

TXDOT - Texas Department of Transportation

University Affiliate – This category includes any currently employed faculty, staff, or enrolled students.

University Business Space - One of several parking spaces around campus reserved for university affiliates who have a valid business permit displayed in conjunction with a regular valid TAMU permit.

Validate - The cashiering process by which parking for an individual (usually a visitor), who pulled a spitter ticket for a pay lot, is charged to a pre-authorized department, program, or project.

Vehicle Hold – Vehicles that are held by a wrecker service, after having been towed to an impound lot, until all fines are collected and/or any permit in question is surrendered as in the case of that permit being in violation of “Lost/Stolen” or “Altered/Forged” status.

Vehicle Release - A form issued by the cashiers to a vehicle owner after they have paid all balances owed to the department. This form authorizes the wrecker service to release the vehicle from impoundment.

Vend - A signal from a card reader, ticket dispenser, or other device, to allow access through a gate. The signal causes the gate to raise, and the gate will close once the vehicle passes through.

Zone Administrator - An individual who assists this department’s administrators in meeting the parking needs of employees in a designated parking zone. A zone administrator researches parking needs within their assigned area; makes recommendations regarding the allocating of parking spaces within their zone; and assists with the dissemination of parking information to employees within their zone.