Safety

Department of Public Safety

Location: Widmaier House, MacInnes Drive

Telephone: 487-2216

Emergency phones are located at the northwest and northeast entrances to the library, as well as on the west side of Rekhi Hall.

Public Safety is Michigan Tech's state-certified police agency, often cooperating with state and local police and fire departments. MTU's public safety officers enforce traffic regulations and other laws on campus. Here are some regulations you should be aware of as a member of the University community.

Vehicle Regulations

Vehicle Registration

All students and University employees who are eligible to drive on campus must register their vehicles with the University. Commuting students register their vehicles in the Office of Student Records and Registration; resident students register in their residence hall. Until you stick the registration decal to your vehicle windshield as instructed, it is not considered registered.

Revocation of Vehicle Privileges

Driving on campus is a privilege, not a right. You can lose that privilege for any of the following reasons:

• receiving disciplinary probation for personal misconduct upon the recommendation of the dean of students
• falsifying information when applying for driving privileges
• receiving three or more traffic violation tickets during any one semester
• violating state laws regarding transportation of alcoholic beverages
• being convicted of speeding or reckless driving on or off campus
• loaning a registered motor vehicle to anyone not eligible to operate a motor vehicle
• being convicted of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs on or off campus

Notice of revocation of vehicle privileges is issued by the director of the Department of Public Safety.

Noisy Vehicles—Prohibition

It's against campus regulations to operate any vehicle, including a bicycle, in a way that makes "unreasonably loud, disturbing, unnecessary, or excessive and raucous noises."

Parking Regulations

Parking Permit Requirement

Most of the parking lots on campus are permit-only. If you park in a lot without having the required permit for that lot, you are in violation of University regulations and you stand a very good chance of getting a ticket.

Visitor Parking

Visitors may park in the visitors' parking lot near the Administration Building. Be sure to get a temporary permit from the Admissions Office, located on the ground floor. The University also maintains a pay lot, open to everyone, near the Memorial Union. If you plan to be at the University for several hours, we recommend that you use the pay lot.

Payment of Parking Fee

It's against University regulations to park in any pay parking facility without paying the designated fee at the prescribed time.

Winter Parking Prohibition (No Signs Required)

Do not park any vehicle on campus between 2:00 am and 7:00 am from November 1 to April 30, unless

• you park in designated parking areas for occupants of University housing
• you are an employee working an assigned shift and parking in an assigned overnight parking space
• you have been issued a special overnight parking permit by the Department of Public Safety.

Parking Prohibitions

Some people might say Michigan Tech barely has enough parking spaces to serve the needs of its students. So, it should come as no surprise that no one is allowed to park on a street for the purpose of

• displaying such vehicle for sale
• washing, polishing, greasing, or repairing such vehicle, except minor repairs necessitated by an emergency
• displaying advertising
• selling merchandise from such vehicle
• storage for more than forty-eight continuous hours.

Parking Gates

If access to a lot is regulated by a parking gate, it's a violation to use the lot without paying the designated fee or using the authorized admittance card or token, in accordance with the gate's operating instructions. Thus, you should not drive or attempt to drive a vehicle into a parking lot through the exit side of the parking gate or drive a vehicle from a parking lot through the entrance side of the parking gate, unless directed to do so by a police officer.

Do not drive or try to drive a vehicle through parking lot exits or entrances controlled by parking gates except in the manner posted and indicated by the operation of the parking gate.

Parking for the Disabled

Only someone certified by the Michigan Secretary of State, another state, or (in case of temporary handicap) by the Department of Public Safety as a handicapper is allowed to stop, stand, or park a vehicle for any length of time, either wholly or partially, in any parking space designated for handicapper parking or identified as a handicapper parking area, unless the person is parking the vehicle for the benefit of a handicapper.

For a vehicle to be parked in the parking space, the vehicle must display one of the following:

• a certificate of identification or special registration plate issued by the Michigan Secretary of State to the handicapper
• a similar certificate of identification or special registration plate issued by another state to a handicapper
• a temporary handicapper permit issued by the Department of Public Safety

Pedestrian Regulations

When Pedestrians Shall Yield

Pedestrians crossing the street who are not in a crosswalk or at an intersection are required to yield the right-of-way to all vehicles on the roadway.

Pedestrians' Right-of-Way in Crosswalk

Pedestrians and drivers alike are required to obey traffic control signals. However, when traffic control signals are not in place or not in operation, drivers must yield the right-of-way, slowing down or stopping for pedestrians in a crosswalk when the pedestrian is on the half of the roadway where the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger. However, no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the driver to yield.

Pedestrians on Streets

Where sidewalks are provided, pedestrians are forbidden to walk on the main traveled portion of the street or roadway. Where sidewalks are not provided, pedestrians shall, when practical, walk on the left side of the street or highway facing traffic that passes nearer.

Permit Requirements

Parade and Procession Permits

Processions and parades are not allowed on any roadway, except in accordance with a permit issued by the director of public safety.

Sound Truck Permits

It's illegal to operate, cause, or permit to be operated any sound truck or other vehicle using any amplifier or loudspeaker on campus unless you first get written permission from the provost.

Snowmobile Regulations

A snowmobile parking area is located at the east end of the lower level of the Minerals and Materials Engineering Building, adjacent to the snowmobile trail that runs along the lakefront. To use the area, get a green commuter parking permit from public safety. From the parking area, you can enter the M&M Building and take the elevator to the sixth floor, the main-campus level.

Operating a snowmobile on University property, except when riding the trail that runs along the lakefront, is prohibited.

Weapons Regulations

Weapons are defined as firearms and ammunition, bows and arrows, other dangerous weapons, and explosives. The following provisions have been set by the Michigan Tech Board of Control and are enforced by the Department of Public Safety.

1. Students and employees of Michigan Technological University and visitors to the University are required to register all firearms (rifles, pistols, shotguns, air rifles), archery or hunting bows, any weapon for which license is required by law, or any dangerous weapon with the designated representative of the University prior to bringing any such item onto University property or any property over which the University may have jurisdiction.
2. The possession or use of a loaded firearm or archery or hunting bow on University property is prohibited, except at the rifle range and designated archery ranges, and then only if such equipment is properly registered with the University. The possession of any explosives, except commonly accepted recreational sporting ammunition stored in designated weapons storage areas, in use at the rifle range, or in direct and rapid transit to or from these areas, is prohibited on University property except under the direction of a University employee as part of an authorized course.
3. Except for the purpose of promptly transporting a properly registered firearm and/or its ammunition, bow, or other dangerous weapon directly to or from designated weapons storage areas, or the use of such items as part of an authorized course activity, the possession of such an item in any University building is prohibited. Furthermore, the storage of any such item on University property in other than a designated weapons storage area is prohibited.
   

   Designated weapons storage areas are limited to the weapons storage rooms in the residence halls, the rifle range, the archery range, ROTC weapons storage facilities, and MTU Apartments, along with such other areas as may be subsequently designated as weapons storage areas by the director of the Department of Public Safety. While the possession or storage of any firearm, bow, or other dangerous weapon, ammunition, or explosive is expressly prohibited in the student rooms in such residence halls, as many as five such properly registered weapons and ammunition for same may be stored in each MTU apartment.

4. Authorized law enforcement officers in the performance of their duties may be exempted from these regulations.
5. Any violation of these rules may render the violator liable to disciplinary action or expulsion.
6. In addition to the University policy, the following requirements are mandatory with regard to University residence halls:
   1. All weapons must be registered according to posted procedures in each hall and stored only in designated areas within residence halls.
   2. Such weapons may not be taken from the designated storage area except for direct transportation in or out of the hall.
   3. All ammunition for weapons must also be stored with the weapons in designated areas and may not be taken to student rooms.
   4. The student must meet any specific requirements of hall storage areas regarding the removal of weapons to use and the checkout of weapons to transport home.