Gordon Police Regulations

Gordon College Motor Vehicle Regulations

Operation of a motor vehicle on campus is a privilege that is granted by the College and is contingent upon compliance with campus motor vehicle regulations. The Student Handbook contains a summary of these regulations; for a complete description of motor vehicle regulations, please see our Parking and Driving at Gordon guide. Every student, faculty and staff member operating a vehicle on campus is required to be familiar with the regulations. Gordon College reserves the right to revoke any campus registration in the best interests of the College. The motor vehicle must then be removed from campus. Vehicles found parked on campus after parking privileges have been revoked may be towed off campus at the owner’s expense.

VEHICLE REGISTRATION

Every vehicle operated on campus by a student, faculty, or staff member must be registered with Gordon Police on the first day it is brought to campus. This includes part-time and commuter students. There is no payment required when you register; the applicable registration fee will be charged to your student account (there is no charge for faculty or staff members).

You may register ONLINE any time; the form is available here: Vehicle Registration Form.

Once the online form has been processed (typically within a week), a parking permit will be delivered to the student's campus mailbox. The sticker should be immediately affixed to the motor vehicle as directed. Permits are not transferable (between vehicles or persons).

The annual registration fee for the 2024–25 school year is $312 for both residential and commuter students. Students identified by the Registrar as first-year or sophomore students must obtain a special "Woodland" parking permit and may park only in the Woodland parking lot at all times. Failure to register a vehicle when it is brought to campus may result in additional fines.

Second Vehicles: Students may register a second vehicle on campus for no additional charge provided both vehicles are never on campus at the same time. Students found operating or parking two vehicles on campus may be fined, and the vehicle may be towed at the student’s expense.

Out-of-state students operating vehicles bearing out-of-state registration plates are required by Massachusetts law to complete a nonresident student vehicle information form and to affix a blue validation sticker to their windshield. Nonresident students must obtain a new nonresident sticker each school year (there is no charge for this sticker). In addition, all out-of-state vehicles are required to carry either a copy of their insurance policy or a statement of insurance coverage on their broker's letterhead. When students register, they will be sent a link to the MA required "Nonresident Student Driver Statement" and instructions to complete it and submit to the Gordon Police. After the form is submitted, the student will be issued the MA non-resident sticker.

When a motor vehicle’s state registration plates are changed or a motor vehicle is sold and its plates transferred to another motor vehicle, Gordon Police must be notified within two days. In addition, when a vehicle is sold, its campus parking permit should be removed and destroyed prior to the transfer of ownership.

Motorcycles, Mopeds and Scooters: Motorcycles, mopeds and gas-powered scooters must be registered with Gordon Police on the first day they are brought to campus. They will not be issued stickers, but the vehicle information will be recorded. There is no charge for registering a motorcycle provided the student operator parks it in designated motorcycle parking areas only (contact Gordon Police for details). Motorcycles may not be parked overnight on campus during the winter snow season and must be moved for all snow removal operations and announced lot clearings. Motorized vehicles and ride-ons, whether gas or battery powered, may not be parked inside college buildings at any time.

Temporary Parking Passes: A student temporary parking pass may be obtained by using the online Visitor or Temporary Use Vehicle Pass form. These passes are available for a vehicle that will be on campus for only a portion of a quad (three weeks or less). The pass must be requested (using the online form) within 24 hours of bringing the car to campus.

NOTE: If a student is not sure how long he/she will have a car on campus, the car SHOULD BE REGISTERED (rather than requesting a Temporary Pass). We are happy to issue a pro-rated credit for any unused quads, if the car is removed before the end of the year. The student may request a credit by sending an email to [email protected].

The student will be charged for the pass based on how long the vehicle will be on campus and in the following increments:

24-Hour Pass: $3.00
3-Day Pass: $7.00
1-Week Pass: $15.00
2-Week Pass: $29.00
3-Week Pass: $44.00

Visitors (non-students) may request a three-day visitor’s pass for no charge at any time.

Students who operate a vehicle on campus without registering may be charged applicable temporary pass and registration fees regardless of whether a pass or sticker is obtained.

Please note the following:

Student temporary passes are NOT intended to be used to delay registering a vehicle that will be on campus for longer than two weeks. In such cases, the car should be registered right away (and a credit can be arranged if it is removed from campus prior to the end of the school year).
Students who believe they have extenuating circumstances must obtain a pass as described above. They must then contact Chief of Police Glenn Deckert (at [email protected]) prior to the expiration of the pass to request special arrangements.
A student who fails to obtain a pass or register a vehicle will be charged the full year's registration fee whenever it is determined that the vehicle has been on campus in violation of the above policy. The student will also be responsible for any citations received for failure to register and may continue to be cited for failing to display a college sticker, even after the registration fee has been charged. Citations issued for failing to register will not be credited back after the student has been charged the annual fee, so students are advised to register in a timely manner.

VEHICLE OPERATION

It is the policy of Gordon College that all Massachusetts motor vehicle laws (as defined in M.G.L. Chapters 85, 89, or 90 or MA 540 CMR) will be observed on campus. The Gordon Police will enforce the observance of these laws to ensure the safety of campus drivers and pedestrians.

A comprehensive explanation of campus parking and driving regulations may be found on the Gordon Police web pages. Members of the Gordon community (employees and students) are expected to be familiar with college parking and driving regulations, and all campus drivers are expected to be familiar with Massachusetts laws for safe vehicle operation.

If at any time you cannot find legal parking, please contact Gordon Police by phone (978-867-4444) or by pulling up to the main gate. You will then be directed to authorized parking.

SPECIAL INFORMATION

Students who drive to the Gordon-Conwell campus in Hamilton are expected to abide by all posted regulations and use only student parking areas. Reciprocally, students from Gordon-Conwell are expected to abide by all posted regulations and use only general parking areas. A reciprocal agreement for issuing citations and collecting fines is enforced.
Gordon College assumes no responsibility for any vehicle or its contents while it is on campus.
Massachusetts Crash Operator Report forms are available online or from the Gordon Police. Massachusetts law requires these to be filed within five days for any accident in which there is any of the following: personal injury or death; total damage of $1,000 or more to motor vehicles; any damage to personal or public property other than motor vehicles. Assistance in filing this report will be given by Gordon Police personnel upon request.

NO OVERNIGHT PARKING

There is NO overnight parking allowed in the following parking lots (they are closed from 2 to 6 a.m.); the prohibition is noted on signs at the entrance to each lot:

The Gordon Chapel lot
The Ken Olsen Science Center lot
The entire Lower lot (behind Frost, MacDonald and Jenks)
The Physical Plant lots (both front and rear)
The Barrington Center for the Arts lot
The Bennett Center lot.
The Brigham Athletic Complex parking lot (closed whenever the gates are down).

Vehicles parked in these lots overnight may be cited. Whenever they impede campus operations (including event use and/or snow and ice removal during the winter months), the college reserves the right to tow such vehicles at the owner’s expense.

PARKING WHILE YOU ARE AWAY FROM CAMPUS (INCLUDING BREAKS)

If you will not be on campus for 24 hours or more at any time, your vehicle must be parked in the Woodland Parking Lot (unless your keys are left with a trusted friend who could move the vehicle in the event of a lot clearing or emergency). Cars left behind in other lots may need to be towed if necessitated by special events or weather-related issues. This applies year-round to all vehicles, including during school breaks (quad breaks, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring recess, Easter weekend, summer recess, etc).

When a car will be parked on campus during a longer-term absence (such as all or part of the summer, or while away at an off campus program for a semester), the operator must submit an online Absentee Parking Pass Form. IMPORTANT: while the owner is away, the vehicle must be parked in lots E, G, or H of the Woodland Lot

SNOW REMOVAL

On days following significant snowfall, plowing all the campus lots may be necessary. If the decision is made to carry out special snow removal procedures, the campus will be notified as soon as possible after the snowfall via the following means:

Email to the campus community.
Emergency Notification System message (optional; each fall or upon request, you will be given the opportunity to "opt in" to the "Lot Clearings for Snow" group in the campus notification system).
Signs on sandwich boards at campus entrances.

Once snow removal is announced, a schedule of lots to be cleared (including specific dates and times each lot must be emptied of cars) will be posted on the GO site and sent via email to the campus community.

Note that there will often be only 24 hours notice prior to a snow removal operation. If you will be leaving your car on campus for more than 24 hours while you are away during snow season, you must leave a set of keys with a trusted person. This includes, but is not limited to, members of sports teams going on road trips, staff members leaving a car on campus during a business trip, students and faculty members on an academic trip, etc. Everyone’s cooperation is needed. Absence from campus is not a valid excuse for failing to move your car for snow removal.

Please note:

Cars remaining in lots to be plowed after the time indicated in the lot clearing schedule may be towed and cited ($100 or more).
Cars may return to plowed lots only after all snow removal equipment leaves the lot.
If your car is stuck or disabled, call the Gordon Police (978 867 4444) as soon as possible after notice of snow removal has been posted. We will make every reasonable effort to assist you, but cannot guarantee that the vehicle will not need to be towed.

SCHOOL CLOSING

In the event a decision is made to close or delay the opening of school for the day, information will be disseminated by the following means:

Web Banners: Found at the top of each web page on the public website (www.gordon.edu).
Emergency Notification System: at the start of every school year, you will receive an email from the College with instructions for setting up your emergency contact information, including the phone number and email address you would like used for the campus emergency notification system. Once you have entered your information, you will be sent closing notifications via the system.

Please do not call the Gordon Police business line (978.867.4444) for school closing information.

LOST AND FOUND

Items found should be turned in to the Gordon Police office. Items will be kept for 30 days and then donated to charity or disposed of.

Crime Prevention

People unrelated to Gordon have easy access to this campus. If you see a suspicious person or activity at any time, please don’t hesitate to promptly notify Gordon Police. Dial 978.867.3333.

If you are alone in any area of a building late at night, notify Gordon Police. They will make periodic checks.

Do not leave doors or windows unlocked or propped open after hours. Your neighbor’s security is as important as your own.

Key Control

All administrative (non-residence hall) keys are issued by Physical Plant (not Gordon Police) and may be requested via the key request page on the Gordon Internet site.

All administrative keys must be returned to Gordon Police regardless of where or from whom the key was obtained. A fee will be charged for lost keys and for keys not returned at the end of the academic year. Returned keys must be accompanied by your name in order for you to receive proper credit for their return.

Emergency Procedures and Safety Regulations

In the event of an emergency, contact the Gordon Police office by dialing ext. 3333 (from your cell phone dial 978.867.3333), and then notify the resident advisor or resident director. A complete description of campus emergency procedures and information can be found in the annual Safety and Security Report, which is distributed at the start of each school year (prior to October 1). A copy of the report can be obtained any time by contacting [email protected].

PERSONAL TRANSPORTATION USE AND STORAGE (including Bikes, Scooters, One-Wheels, etc.)

Motorized ride-ons cannot be operated on pedestrian walkways or sidewalks, and they may not be stored or parked inside in rooms, hallways, lobbies, entryways or stairwells. Students who operate a motorized ride-on on campus walkways may be fined, and repeated violations may result in the ride-on being confiscated and removed from campus.

Non-motorized bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc., can be ridden on pedestrian walkways, provided that they are operated safely, yielding to pedestrians.

Riders of any personal bike, skateboard, etc. – motorized or non-motorized – should use caution on campus roadways and parking lots for their safety and the safety of others, and should observe all applicable rules of the road (including, but not limited to, stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks, yielding to pedestrians, observing campus speed limits, stop signs, etc.).

TAVILLA HILL CROSSWALK POLICY

The intersection of the campus perimeter roadway behind A. J. Gordon Memorial Chapel and the roadway leading up to the hill residences (Tavilla, Fulton and Nyland) is considered a dangerous intersection. This has been the site of numerous accidents in which pedestrians (typically on skateboards or bikes) have struck or been struck by vehicles on the campus roadway. Several of these accidents have involved property damage, personal injury or both. Because of this, Gordon College has adopted a strict safety policy regarding both pedestrians and drivers at this intersection.

Pedestrians approaching the Tavilla hill intersection from either direction (that is, from the Tavilla hill or the walkway from Lane), whether on foot or on wheeled devices (e.g., skateboards, scooters, bikes, etc.) MUST stop at the edge of the roadway before proceeding across the marked crosswalk. Pedestrians and those on wheeled devices who fail to STOP before proceeding across the roadway or crosswalk will be subject to a fine (which will increase after the first offense). Students who repeatedly violate this policy may be subject to further disciplinary action.

Vehicles approaching this crosswalk from either direction on the campus perimeter roadway must STOP at the posted stop signs before proceeding through the crosswalk, and must yield to pedestrians IN the crosswalk. Per Massachusetts law, after stopping, vehicles may proceed if there are no pedestrians IN the crosswalk. Vehicles are not required to yield to pedestrians approaching the crosswalk since those pedestrians are required to stop and yield to vehicles entering the crosswalk before proceeding.

WEAPONS

Per Massachusetts General Law chapter 269, section 10(j), it is illegal to carry any firearm or dangerous weapon on the campus of an educational institution. Gordon College does not allow any firearms or dangerous weapons on campus. All weapons found on campus will be confiscated. Students violating this provision may be suspended. All violators are subject to prosecution, and violators found carrying firearms are subject to arrest.

For the purposes of this policy, the list of weapons prohibited will include (but is not limited to): firearms of any kind, firearms ammunition, pellet/BB guns, hunting or target bows, paintball guns, airsoft guns, switchblades, double-edged knives, fixed blade knives (such as hunting knives) with blades longer than 4 inches, metal swords, machetes, stun guns, or any other weapons prohibited by Massachusetts General Law.

Pepper Spray: Though pepper spray may be carried legally in Massachusetts without a special license, by law it may not be carried on campus without express permission from a duly appointed college officer. Pepper spray may NOT be carried on campus without first applying for permission to carry (to apply, contact the chief of police at [email protected]). We strongly urge students not to carry pepper spray anywhere without first being trained in its safe use.

Stun Guns, Tasers and other Electronic Weapons: Under Massachusetts law, stun guns are considered "firearms." They may not be possessed or carried on campus at any time, and citizens found in possession off campus without a license to carry are subject to arrest and criminal prosecution.

FIRE DRILLS

Fire drills will be held each semester to ensure residents are able to evacuate the halls quickly. Anyone in a hall at the time of an alarm must participate in the drill. Failure to follow this procedure may result in disciplinary action.

FIRE PREVENTION

Candles and incense are not to be used in residence halls. Combustible liquids of any type are not to be used or stored in the residence halls; combustible decorations are not to be hung from the ceilings. Fire exits and hallways are to remain clear of obstruction. Other fire safety regulations may be found on the Gordon website under Environmental Health and Safety.

FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Anyone tampering with fire alarm systems or fire protection equipment may be suspended from the College. Any individual sounding a false alarm will be fined the cost of the alarm. Tampering with the test buttons on the smoke detectors is prohibited as this may cause an alarm. Nothing may be hung on any sprinkler pipes or sprinkler heads.

FIREWORKS

Fireworks (including, but not limited to, firecrackers, Roman candles, cherry bombs, M-80s, wheels, fountains, and any other firework as defined by M.G.L. Chapter 148§39) and similar explosives are prohibited by state law and are therefore prohibited on campus. A student violating this provision may be suspended, and the fireworks will be confiscated.

COMPRESSION BOMBS

Compression bombs (also known as “the works” bombs), or any similar device made by mixing chemicals or other substances in a bottle or other container so that the container will explode (whether by combustion or pressure), are forbidden on campus. Possession of such devices is a violation of Massachusetts law.

Gordon College and the local police and fire departments consider such explosive devices to be extremely dangerous. When they are found or detonated on campus, College officials will contact local and/or state law enforcement agencies, and students found to have possessed or detonated the devices may be charged with felony possession of an explosive device. Students are urged to refrain from making or using such devices.