Citation Hearing and Appeals Procedure

Any individual who receives a parking or traffic citation is required to make payment or submit all appeals online.  Log into the parking account portal to make a payment or complete a citation appeal request.

The following reasons are NOT acceptable grounds for dismissing a parking or traffic citation:

• Ignorance of regulations
• Inability to find a legal parking space
• No spaces available
• Inclement weather
• Late for class
• Improperly displayed a federal or state-issued handicapped placard or visitor/special event perking pass
• Failure to register a vehicle license plate and/or purchase a parking permit number
• Someone else parked the vehicle

Requests for an appeal must be made within five calendar days of issuance of the citation. The appeal clerk with the Department of Parking and Transit Services will provide the time and place of the hearing via university email. The board(s) may make a decision based upon the written request with or without the presence of the alleged violator. 

All students shall have an option of a hearing before a student judicial board. Student hearings will be held weekly during fall and spring semesters. During the summer semester, student hearings will be held once a month. Students may appeal the decision of the student judicial board to the Parking and Transit Services Committee via university email within five calendar days from the decision of the board.  Faculty and staff members may appeal to the Parking and Transit Services Committee via university email within five calendar days from the decision of the board. The decision from the Parking and Transit Services Committee is final.

The appeals procedure applies to all campuses but each campus may be addressed separately based on volume and timing.  

A student requesting a hearing may be present at the student judicial board at his or her parking violation hearing and may present information as permitted by the board regarding the citation. Parking violations “Request for Hearing” cases where the alleged violator wishes to be present are decided by the board(s) at the hearing.

• A diagram or other pertinent information describing details concerning the citation may be submitted to the Department of Parking and Transit Services Office.
• Citations are considered pending during the parking violation hearing process, however, that does not stop one from receiving additional citations if found in violation.
• The board(s) will hear the matter and render a decision.
• The board(s) may:
  • find that a parking violation occurred and impose the appropriate penalty; or,
  • find that no parking violation occurred and dismiss the citation; or,
  • suspend half or the entire fine imposed as a result of a finding of fact in the hearing.

The decision of the board(s) is transmitted to the alleged violator at the address supplied online.

The Parking and Transit Committee reviews appeals on all University Police Department traffic citations. The decision of the Committee is final.

The Parking and Transit Services’ Committee reviews appeals on boot, tows and resubmissions. The decision of the Committee is final.

 

How to submit a citation appeal or make a citation payment

You will need the following information:

• Campus ID Credentials (example: W123456@usm.edu and password) or visitor account
• A valid email address
• The citation number that you are appealing

A credit card can be used to make a secure online payment. Cash, Visa or MasterCard are accepted at the following locations:

Hattiesburg Campus

• The Department of Parking and Transit Services in McLemore Hall, First Floor lobby

Gulf Park Campus

• The Department of Parking Management is located at 138 Beach Park Place

 If you have any questions or problems, please contact Parking and Transit Services by emailing parkingFREEMississippi or calling 601.266.4943