Frequently Asked Questions

1. Does DOTS receive money from the state?

The Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) is a self-support unit within the University, and DOES NOT receive money from the State of Maryland. This is a state policy. All operational revenues that support the parking program are generated by parking fees, tickets, and parking meter income. Therefore, it is necessary to charge faculty, staff and students a parking fee.

2. How many tickets are issued annually and how much money is collected from parking tickets? Where does the money go?

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2006, DOTS issued approximately 73,000 parking tickets. This number is down from 20,000 tickets three years ago. DOTS collects approximately $2.2 million per year. This revenue is put into the DOTS general fund and helps to offset parking fees for the campus community.

3. Does DOTS transfer money to other departments in order to subsidize them?

No. DOTS does make transfers to several different departments that provide specific parking-related services. For example. these transfers are used to pay for electricity, parking lot cleanings, snow removal, parking garage security and other areas that directly support the mission of DOTS.

4. How much does it cost to build and operate a parking garage?

5. Is DOTS compensated for lost parking due to building construction?

No. State policy does not allow funding for any parking construction on our campus. This is consistent with the self-support nature of DOTS.

6. How does parking for athletic events affect our fees?

DOTS collects fees from athletic event attendees. This revenue is used to pay for expenses related to these events and to support the general DOTS budget. Additionally, this revenue helps to subsidize the costs of parking permit fees.

7. Why were Campus Parking and Shuttle-UM merged?

The University recognizes the need to provide a more integrated and comprehensive approach to transportation and parking services on campus. To achieve this goal, Shuttle-UM and the Department of Campus Parking have merged to become one new unit called the Department of Transportation Services.

8. How are faculty, staff, and students assigned to their parking areas?

The process for assigning faculty and staff is determined through individual departments. DOTS provides parking assignments to each department on campus. Then, it is the responsibility of each department to determine where each individual will park within their assigned lots. Student parking assignments are based on their class standing and/or their on-campus resident address.

Generally, the priority for parking is faculty and staff first, then commuter students, and finally, resident students.

9. Do University College students pay to park on our campus?

Generally, DOTS receives funding from University College through an annual transfer to compensate for those students taking classes on the College Park campus.

10. How many ticket writers are enforcing the campus parking policies at any given time?

On average, five enforcement officers are operating at a time. At the most, seven officers are working at one time, and at the least, three.