Student Life Policies and Procedures Transportation and Parking Regulations

Speed Limit Enforced on Cold Spring Road to Ensure Safety of Children, Pedestrians, and Motorists

The speed limit on Cold Spring Road is 35 miles per hour (and 25 mph when children are present). Westmont expects students to make sure that whoever is driving their vehicle observes this speed limit. Radar is used to determine speed. If your vehicle is identified as one that has exceeded this limit, you will receive a $50 fine (regardless of who may have been driving the vehicle). A second excessive speed citation will result in the suspension of parking permit privileges in addition to another $50 fine.

California requires all motorcyclists to wear helmets. California Vehicle Code Section 27803 states that a driver and any passenger shall wear a helmet that meets federal safety standards when riding on a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle. Tickets can be issued to bike owners for not wearing a helmet on campus.

Parking Permits are Limited to Reduce Traffic on Area Roads

To limit traffic on Montecito roads, Santa Barbara County restricts the number of student and employee vehicles traveling on Cold Spring Road. Seniors and Juniors may purchase full-time parking privileges. Sophomores will only be allowed to  request full-time parking privileges on a space-available basis, and such space is very limited. Sophomores are required to request by appeal in the online form. It is a violation of both college policy and County regulations to bring or operate non-permitted vehicles on the campus, or park on a neighboring street. This will result in a $50 fine per incident and may jeopardize future permit privileges. First-year students (as determined by Admissions upon entry, and regardless of unit credit status) are not eligible to apply for a permit and should not bring a car to the college. Bringing a car to campus no matter how long is still a violation of the policy if you are not permitted.

Permit Enforcement

The college identifies vehicles and applies sanctions to students’ vehicles parked on campus without permits, and in the vicinity of the college and in the larger Montecito area with or without permits. The Conditional Use Permit (CUP) that governs our use of this prime Montecito property specifically prohibits student parking on neighboring streets or in other public areas which are not at their off-campus residence. Residents and merchants in the Montecito area (including the Upper Village and on Coast Village Road) are understandably frustrated when students use residential streets or business parking spaces for a vehicle not permitted to be on campus.

In addition to regular Campus Safety enforcement procedures and neighborhood sorties, Westmont identifies non-permitted vehicles in several ways: through a database; through observations by faculty/staff members; and, if necessary, with the assistance of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Sanctions for permit violations are as follows:

1st notification: $50/citation;

2nd notification: $50/citation, minimum one-month suspension of parking privileges, conference with student life staff member;

3rd notification: $50/citation, minimum one-semester suspension of parking privileges, conference with dean of students (or designee).

Appeals of Parking Citations

The Parking Appeals  investigative body that determines if a student has received a citation in error. Submit such appeals to William Boyd, Chief of Campus Safety (parkingticketappeals@westmont.edu) within 10 days for consideration, appeals over that time are not accepted. It is the student responsibility to have stickers posted on their vehicle. Your permit allows you to park on campus that doesn't mean you will always find a parking spot in front of your assigned dorm location. It is not acceptable to appeal a citation by saying, “I had a good reason,” “I was told by a faculty member it was ok to bring an unpermitted vehicle to campus,” or “I was parking in the Dining Commons to get a quick meal.“ Parking Appeals acknowledges that many circumstances exist when a vehicle seems critical to accommodate a tight schedule, return to campus late at night, assist an academic department or student activity, etc. In these situations, it is likely less expensive to rent a taxi or use a ride-sharing service or the campus Zipcars than pay a $50 fine and jeopardize future permit privileges. Please note that citations at Ocean View are not appealable.

Students Who Own Vehicles Must Have California License Plates

The California Vehicle Code requires most vehicles used by students in California to be registered with the California Department of Motor Vehicles and to display California license plates. The only exceptions are: 1) if the vehicle is not registered to the student AND it is operated in California less than it is operated in any other state AND the student is not registered to vote in California; OR 2) if the vehicle is not registered to the student AND it is used by a student under 23 years of age who is a dependent of a non-California resident AND the student is not employed in California in any capacity, whether full time or part time AND the student is not registered to vote in California.

College Reserves the Right to Tow Vehicles

In order to comply with the Santa Barbara County Conditional Use Permit, to maintain orderly parking and to ensure ready access for emergency and refuse vehicles, Westmont has the right to fine, tow (at the expense of the owner/operator), revoke parking privileges, and/or issue other disciplinary sanctions.

Motor Homes

Visitors traveling in motorhomes may park at the local RV campgrounds. The closest one to campus is the Carpinteria State Beach Park, located 12 miles south, just off Highway 101. There are no locations or facilities on campus to accommodate motor homes or campers.

Transportation for Westmont-sponsored Special ROTC Programs

Since the ROTC Army program through UCSB and ROTC Air Force program through USC, UCLA, and Loyola Marymount University are Westmont-sponsored special programs, the college will ensure that first-year and sophomore students have transportation to their respective program locations. This provision is made because of restrictions in the issuance of parking permits to first-year and sophomore students. Westmont accomplishes this by the following means:

  1. If a junior/senior is attending the program at the same time and has a vehicle, the college will connect the first-year and sophomore students with those with transportation.
  2. If no juniors or seniors in the ROTC programs have their own transportation, Westmont will loan a college vehicle for the student to drive to the program site. The vehicle internal chargeback costs will be covered by the college, but the student operator is required to buy/replace fuel for the vehicle.
  3. ROTC program participants need to be identified by the Records Office in order to qualify for the loan of a vehicle. Participants in Westmont-sponsored programs may contact the Housing & Parking Office for information on how to borrow a college vehicle.

Please contact the Housing Office for more information.

Westmont College Vehicle Regulations are available from Campus Safety.

Last Updated on 8/16/21

Last Reviewed on 8/16/21