Policies and Procedures

Disabled parking permits are available at the standard calendar year, month, week, and day cost of campus parking. Parking in pay-by-plate areas is also an option with payment of the pay station.

Although a paid UW-Stout permit is required to park on campus, a state issued permit will be honored when used by visitors on a one-time or infrequent basis. Parking must be in a signed disabled space, not a pay-by-plate area, meter or reserved space.

State-issued permits

A frequent question is why does UW-Stout regulate disabled parking differently than is described in the literature provided with your state permit. The reason is that the DMV's literature is describing municipal parking, while university parking is more analogous to private parking. Section 346.50(2) of Wis. Stats. describes the "exceptions to stopping and parking restrictions" that apply to individuals displaying a special registration plate or special identification card. That language specifically identifies parking in municipalities, in other words parking supported by the public, not private parking.

Applicable state law

Wisconsin Administrative Code 1.05(2)

2) Accommodation for disabled employees. An employee’s disability shall be shown by a statement from a physician, an advanced practice nurse, a physician assistant, a chiropractor or a Christian science practitioner, indicating that the employee is disabled according to those standards established in s. 341.14, Stats. Parking for vehicles with special identification cards for the physically handicapped pursuant to s. 343.51, Stats., shall be provided as close as possible to an entrance which can be used by disabled employees. Disabled employees allocated parking under this section shall not be exempted from payment for parking privileges under s. 16.843 (2), Stats.

Students and Staff with a disability, permanent or temporary, must display a valid permit to park in accessible locations near campus buildings. 

Regulation

• State-issued disabled permits or license plates are not valid for student/employee parking.
• Students/staff must purchase a Stout disabled parking permit - your license plate is your permit.
• Visitors may park with display of a state-issued permit.
• Neither Stout nor state disabled permits are valid in pay-by-plate areas or short-term metered spaces.

Permit issue - Your License Plate is Your Permit

• Stop by Parking Services
• Bring verification of your state disabled authorization
• OR ask your physician to complete the Medical Verification form and bring it to the Parking Services Office.
• You're welcome to stop by Parking Services for a short-term authorization immediately if you're waiting for a medical authorization (bring your license plate number since your license plate is your permit).
• If you already have a campus permit, we will exchange it for the disabled permit at no additional cost.
• If you do not already have a permit, a one or two day authorization may be made available while you're waiting for a medical authorization at no cost.

Disabled parking authorization

• A copy of your state-issued disabled permit or license plate
• If you don't already have a state disabled parking authorization, you'll need medical verification.
• Link to medical verification form
• Ask your physician to complete the medical authorization form, scan it and send it via e-mail to parking@uwstout.edu .
• If you happen to already have an authorization form on file with the Disability Services Office there is no need to do this again. Let Parking know and we'll ask that a copy be forwarded.

Temporary Disabilities

Parking Services can provide temporary accommodations for parking assistance for up to 4 weeks.

• If you do NOT currently have a UW-Stout permit there is a charge.
• If you DO have a valid UW-Stout permit, we will exchange it for the disabled permit at no charge.

1. The vehicle and/or driver has unpaid parking citations or is a chronic violator.
2. The driver of a vehicle ignored the verbal warning (or order), from a police officer or CSO, of a parking violation, and/or refuses to comply.
3. When a vehicle is parked in an area (drive lane, curb, crosswalk, curb cut, etc) where its continued presence would present a potential hazard to pedestrians and/or other motorists.
4. When a vehicle is parked in an area that hinders/obstructs the necessary operations of university service vehicles and other service providers (e.g. loading docks, blocking trash pick-up areas)
5. When a vehicle is parked in an area that would obstruct emergency vehicle access to university buildings and grounds.
6. When a vehicle is parked on university grounds/sidewalks.
7. When a vehicle has parked, or continues to park in a parking lot that has been closed.
8. Unauthorized vehicles, in residential lots, when space availability may displace a paid permit holder.
9. A vehicle that does not display license plates and without a visible vehicle identification number.
10. A vehicle with a license plate that does not match the vehicle registration (stolen or illegally transferred plates).
11. A vehicle that, to the best of this department's knowledge and belief, has been abandoned.

General guidelines for parking on or around campus:

• Parking in UW-Stout lots is monitored and regulated 365 days a year. Regulations are posted on lot entrance signs, signs in specific portions of the lots, and on our website: https://uwstout.edu/parking
• Parking on all streets through, and adjacent to, campus is regulated by the City of Menomonie. Drivers should follow regulations set forth by the city.
• Exceptions to parking regulations for UW-Stout events may be granted and will be relayed from UW-Stout Police to event coordinators. These exceptions will be in writing and issued to the event coordinators.
• Buses are only able to utilize UW parking lots for parking on weekends after 4pm on Friday – Sunday afternoon or by written exception from UW-Stout Police.

Drop-off / Pick-up:

The drop-off and pick-up of passengers should be a short-term event and can be done with the following exceptions to parking and regular traffic regulations:

• Stopping along the edges of lots and in drive lanes, even if marked as a “no parking” or “fire lane,” is permitted if done for the purposes of the drop-off or pick-up. NOTE: The driver must always remain with the bus.
• Briefly stopping in the drive lanes of UW parking lots where it does not impede the regular flow of traffic for an extended period is permitted for drop-off and pick-up only.
• Briefly stopping along the curb on city streets for the purposes of dropping-off or picking-up passengers has historically been acceptable, however, drivers should refer to City of Menomonie regulations regarding any street stopping or parking.

Location:

• Bicycles may only be parked in a bike rack.
• If a specific bike rack is full a cyclist must find an open space in another campus bike rack.
• University Housing offers a winter storage area for residents.

Time:

• Bicycles may be parked on campus while the owner is currently enrolled in classes, employed or living on campus.
• Bicycles cannot be stored on campus when the owner is not actively engaged in any of the above mentioned activities.
• Bicycles may not be left on campus during the summer when the owner is not present.

Registration:

• Menomonie City ordinance requires that bikes be registered.
• Bikes may be registered (free) at the Police & Parking Services Office.
• Registration is an effective tool for theft prevention and return of lost/stolen bicycles.
• Registration facilitates contact of bicycle owners rather than citation/impounding.

Enforcement Action:

• Any bicycle parked/locked in an area outside designated bike racks may be issued a citation and removed.
• Any bicycle left unused in an academic area bike rack for more than one week may be removed.
• Any bicycle left unused in a housing area bike rack while the owner is not currently a resident of University Housing may be removed.
• Cut locks are the responsibility of the bicycle owner.
• Impounded bikes will be charged a weekly storage fee.
• Unclaimed bikes will be disposed of in accordance with WI State Statutes.

City of Menomonie Ordinance:

City of Menomonie ordinance restricts use of certain vehicles on sidewalks in the central business district.  Examples of restricted vehicles are:

• Bicycles
• Skateboards
• Roller blades
• Any other kind of play-vehicle

This policy is based on the following information provided by the US Treasury.

The pertinent portion of law that applies is the Coinage Act of 1965, specifically Section 102. This is now found in section 392 of Title 31 of the United States Code. The law says that: "All coins and currencies of the United States, regardless of when coined or issued, shall be legal-tender for all debts, public and private, public charges, taxes, duties and dues."

This statute means that all United States money as identified above are a valid and legal offer of payment for debts when tendered to a creditor. There is, however, no Federal statute mandating that a private business, a person or an organization must accept currency or coins as for payment for goods and/or services. Private businesses are free to develop their own policies on whether or not to accept cash unless there is a State law which says otherwise. For example, a bus line may prohibit payment of fares in pennies or dollar bills. In addition, movie theaters, convenience stores and gas stations may refuse to accept large denomination currency (usually notes above $20) as a matter of policy.