Permit Requirements & Citations
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Due to limited parking on campus, parking regulations are strictly enforced, including weekends, holidays (except those outlined here), finals weeks, quarter breaks, and summer. For more information, view the campus Parking Rules & Regulations.
Permit Requirements
Permits are required on campus. While the majority of our parking lots require permits Monday-Friday, 7:00 am-8:30 pm, some lots also require permits for extended hours. It is essential to read the signs at the entrance or check the most current campus parking map to the lot to know which permit is necessary.
To request Parking Enforcement in specific areas, submit this form or contact the TAPS Sales Office at (831) 459-4543 during business hours.
Printed parking maps and a list of parking regulations are available in the TAPS Sales Office.
Loading/Time Zones
There are no “in-and-out privileges” in loading/time zones. These spaces are located in different areas on campus.
If you need to unload/load your vehicle in an area without a loading/time zone, please call 831-502-7942 or 831-459-2354 and provide TAPS with the following:
- Location
- Vehicle description (make, model)
- License plate number
“Move-In/Out” permits are available from your college housing office.
Fire lanes and other restricted or reserved spaces WILL NOT be approved for parking for short periods of time.
Citation Payments
Citation payments must be received on or before the due date to avoid an additional $35.00 penalty fee. Citations can be paid in the following manner:
- Credit card payments can be made online.
- By mail to UCSC Parking Citations, c/o TAPS Sales Office, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA 95064. When making a payment by mail, please make out your check or money order to UC Regents and include the citation and vehicle license plate number on the check.
- In person at the TAPS Sales Office between 7:30 am and 4:30 pm.
Failure to resolve outstanding citations could impact your ability to renew your UCSC parking permit. Payment plans may be available. FOr more information email TAPS or call (831) 459-4543.
Booted Vehicles
Effective December 1, 2022.
**Vehicles with five or more parking citations over 21 days old are subject to being immobilized with a “boot.” Once booted, all outstanding parking fines must be paid prior to the boot being removed.
Outstanding parking fines and boot fees may be paid with a credit card online, or by cash, money order, or credit card in person at the TAPS Sales Office during business hours. If your vehicle has been booted, please contact our office for further information before paying by credit card. Once payment is received, the boot will be removed between 7 am and 5 pm, Monday-Friday.
Vehicles that have been booted for 72 hours without paying the outstanding parking fines will be subject to towing.
Please contact UC Santa Cruz Police Department at 831-459-2231 ext.1 if your vehicle has been towed.
Contesting Citations
Administrative Review forms are also available at the Transportation and Parking Services Sales Office.
For questions regarding citations, you may call (831) 459-4543 during business hours.
To appeal a citation contest decision, you may request a meeting with a Hearing Examiner per CVC 40215(b). For questions about this process, please email TAPS.
Invoice Forgiveness Program
If you received an invoice citation, you may be eligible for a reduced fine through the Invoice Forgiveness Program.
Eligible Citations
- UC Code 35(a): No permit
- UC Code 35(b): Improper display of permit
- UC Code 36: Expired Permit
Enter your citation number at ucsc.aimsparking.com to determine eligibility and pay the reduced fee (if eligible) within 72 hours of the time listed on the front of your citation.
If your citation is not eligible for the Invoice Forgiveness Program, you may still contest it within 21 days of the date it was issued.
For each citation issued, we have a fixed cost of $16.18. The breakdown of assessed costs per citation is:
- Criminal Justice Facilities Fund: (GC 76000(b)) (GC76101), $1.50
- Courthouse Construction Fund: (GC76000(b)) (GC 76100), $1.50
- County General Fund: (GC 76000(c)(d)): $2.00
- Immediate and Critical Needs Account: (GC 70372(b)), $3.00
- State Court Facilities Fund: (GC70372(b)), $1.50
- Trial Court Trust Fund: (GC 76000.3), $3.00
- TAPS surcharge: $3.00
- Processing fee through our 3rd party vendor $0.60
These costs are prior to being assessed for the Equipment or Registration Assessment:
Equipment Assessment: (CVC 40225) 50% max of fine
Registration Assessment: (CVC 40225) 50% max of fine
Reasons Violations Won’t be Dismissed
- Short errands
- Late for business or personal appointment
- No place else to park—the lot was full
- I didn’t see the sign—I didn’t understand the sign
- Only part of my car was illegally parked
- I left someone in the car
- I left my parking lights on or blinking
- I left a note on my car as to my whereabouts with the motor running
- It was only a few minutes
- Nobody else got a ticket
- Someone else had my car
- An official saw me park and didn’t say anything or said it was okay for a few minutes
- This violation has not been enforced in the past
- I’ve done it for years—everybody does it
TAPS Policy for Payment
Revised 2022
US currency or other acceptable form of US tender will be accepted for the following, including but not limited to:
- All forms of parking fines
- Booted vehicles
- Other payments not noted above
Valid photo identification will be required for payment by personal check. Second-party checks will not be accepted.
US coins and small bills will be accepted on site in limited amounts only. Maximums per denomination are:
- Pennies $.50
- Nickels $1.00
- Dimes $2.00
- Quarters $5.00
- One dollar bills $20.00
- Five dollar bills $100.00
- Ten dollar bills $200.00
Payment in coins that exceed the above limits will require an advanced appointment at the UC Santa Cruz Hahn bldg. cashier’s office between the hours of 9am-noon, Monday-Thursday. The cashiers’ office provides a coin counting machine to count the coins and authenticate the total for payment.