Traffic Court

Section 1. Jurisdiction

The Student Traffic Court shall consider all citation appeals from currently enrolled students related to breaches of parking and transportation regulations as set out in the University of Houston Parking Rules and Regulations brochure.

Section 2. Student Responsibility

All students who purchase decals are expected to read and familiarize themselves with the University of Houston parking and traffic regulations. Ignorance of the traffic code is no defense for a violation.

Section 3. Membership

  1. The court shall consist of 20 students, appointed and approved pursuant to the Student Government Association Constitution; five faculty members and five staff members appointed by the President of the University. One of the student members shall act as chief justice of the court session.
  2. No more than two of the court members shall be from any one college.
  3. All student members of the court and alternates shall have tenure from the time appointed until the time they leave the University so long as they are not guilty of malfeasance or nonfeasance.
    1. There will be both male and female members appointed to the court.
    2. All student members shall be carrying a minimum of nine semester hours and shall maintain no less than a 2.00 grade point average.

Section 4. Quorum

A quorum shall consist of three members. Student Traffic Court shall be empowered to divide itself into two separate courts when it is deemed necessary to facilitate in an orderly fashion the task it has been assigned. In instances when the court divides itself, the quorum shall not change.

Section 5. Authorized Enforcement Actions

  1. Waive or void traffic tickets and reinstatement of late fees.
  2. Impose and/or determine the amount of reinstatement and late fees but not exceed the maximum as set out in the University of Houston Parking Rules and Regulations brochure.
  3. Waive reinstatement and late fee but support ticket which will be maintained on appropriate records.
  4. Impose and/or determine the length of driving and parking suspension periods.
  5. Impose oral or written warning.

Section 6. When Court Shall Convene

The court shall convene at least once per week during the academic year. The chief justice shall have the power to call special meetings of the court when necessary.

Section 7. Procedure for a Student with Proper Decal Who Has Received a Ticket

A student who received a citation shall refer to the Parking Rules and Regulations brochure for procedures. The following procedure applies when a student wishes to appeal a citation:

  1. The student submits the appeal in writing.
  2. The student may elect to appear before Student Traffic Court.
    1. If electing to appear, the student must be present at the hearing.
    2. f the student elects to appear and does not, the case will be heard on the basis of available evidence.
  3. The student may elect not to appear before Student Traffic Court.
    1. If electing not to appear, the student shall complete the hearing form stating the basis of or the reason for the hearing. The student shall be notified by the United States Mail of the court's decision within seven days after a decision is made.
    2. The student cannot be represented by counsel who appears in place of the student.

Section 8. Court

  1. Chief justice presides. In the chief justice's absence, the court elects a presiding officer for that session.
  2. Each court member has one vote, except the chief justice, who shall vote only in case of a tie.
  3. Decisions are reached by majority vote.
  4. The court shall be open to the public except at the request of the student or at the discretion of the court upon request of the Dean of Students. Counsel to the student may remain.
  5. The court's deliberations in determining a decision may be held in private.
  6. The chief justice, in the presence of the court, notifies the student of the court's decision. In the case of a written appeal, the student shall be notified by mail postmarked within seven days of the decision. Vote of the individual justices may be requested by the student upon the announcement of the decision.
  7. The enforcement action is not in effect until all appeal rights have been exercised.
  8. The court shall advise Parking and Transportation and the Dean of Students Office of its decision. If the ticket is waived, the reason for waiver shall be communicated to Parking and Transportation and the Dean of Students Office.
  9. The court shall determine all court procedure except as specified herein.
  10. Every student appearing before the court who is charged by ticket shall be considered innocent until found guilty.

Section 9. Appeals

  1. An appeal shall be submitted in writing on the appropriate form to the office of the Assistant Dean of Students within five class days of the court's decision.
  2. The appeal must be based on adequate and valid reasons.
  3. The reviewing authority has full power to set aside or modify the action of the court.
  4. Any further appeal proceeds to the Dean of Students.

Section 10. Retrial

On the basis of new evidence, a student may submit a request for retrial to the traffic court.

 
DSA   Dean of Students