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Carpool FAQs

Commonly asked questions about the new W&M Carpool program

How many cars may I sign up for carpooling using one permit?
Under a carpool agreement, only three (3) additional cars may be assigned to one permit.
Where are the carpool spaces located?

Carpool spaces are located in prime locations around the William & Mary campus. There are 23 overall spaces arranged in 5 pods. These spaces are distributed as follows:  

List of lots with carpool spaces
Law School 5 spaces
Old Dominion 3 spaces
Parking Deck 5 spaces
School of Education 5 spaces
Yates 5 spaces
Who is responsible if a ticket is given?
The Parking Office only recognizes the sole permit owner as the responsible party for all citations and vehicles listed on the carpool agreement.  Members with previous citations or outstanding balances must satisfy all debts in order to join a carpool.
May I sign up any car to my carpool?
No.  Only individuals who are eligible for a permit may be included in the carpool.  You are required to give a registered student's name for each car you assign to your carpool permit.
May I participate in multiple carpools?
No.  Your car can only be assigned to one permit.
What if I have an emergency and need to drive into campus individually? What if I simply cannot make the carpool?
With the purchase of a carpool pass, Parking Services gives each carpool group 3 one-day-passes per driver (total 6 for two drivers, 9 for three drivers). These passes will allow you to drive individually and park in the appropriate designated areas. These one-day passes may be used at any time. Additional passes may be purchased at the prevailing daily rate.
Why would I get a ticket when I am not driving the vehicle and I didn't know that they were going to campus?
The Parking Office recognizes the vehicle as a carpool vehicle registered with your permit.  We are not equipped to determine if you were actually present and just forgot to switch the hangtag.  We will issue tickets according to the permit and if the permit is not present we look up the license to get the appropriate permit holder (which would be you, the sole permit holder).  When the license is not registered with the Parking Office, we issue a No Decal ticket and apply ultimate financial responsibility of the ticket to the DMV registered owner (which may be a parent).  Hence, it is extremely important that permit holders only list carpooling individuals they know and trust.
If I forget my carpool hangtag (for ANY reason), may I get a temporary permit for the day?
Yes. Each carpool may receive one replacement pass per semester, additional ones will be sold at the prevailing daily rate.
What happens if I removed everyone off my carpool list and they got a ticket with their car?  Am I still responsible?
If you wish to dissolve an agreement you, as the permit holder, are required to come to the Parking Office with the other member(s) and remove their cars from your permit.  If a future citation is issued we will check the timing of the removal with the time of the ticket issuance.  If the ticket is issued after removal from the carpooling listing, you are not held responsible.  However, if the ticket is issued before you remove the car, you are responsible.
Is it possible for me to get a "HOLD" placed on my account with the university because of unpaid tickets, even though I wasn't driving the car in question?  Am I to understand that I may not be allowed to register for classes because of tickets someone else caused as a result of being on my carpool list?
Yes.  As the sole permit holder, you are responsible for the permit at all times even if it is not in your possession (unless you report it as stolen).  Again, it is extremely important that permit holders only list carpooling individuals they know and trust.
If a ticket is issued, will I be notified as the sole permit owner?
You will be notified by automated email the following day, then every 30/60/90 days if the ticket remains unpaid.  Otherwise the ticket is placed on the windshield of the car at the time of issuance.  If you are not riding in the car on that day, it is up to your carpool to notify you.
What is preventing me from signing up a friend to "use" my permit when I graduate after the first semester?  
Remember, YOU will be held responsible for tickets and "HOLDS" may still be applied to your account.  You will not have access to any transcripts and the university will seek repayment.  Finally, additional efforts will be taken when the tickets become unpaid, including wheel locking the car when it is parked on campus. Remember permits are not transferable. If you are departing the university, you may dissolve the carpool, allowing the remaining members to form a new agreement.  You may then apply for a refund of the remaining balance of the permit until March 31st.  After April 1st no refunds will be issued.
If tickets have not been paid and the vehicle is subject to being wheel locked, will Parking Services only wheel lock the sole owner's car?
No.  Parking Services will wheel lock any of the cars listed on the carpool once they are parked on campus.  When a permit owner is subject to wheel locking, the parking privileges for that permit have been suspended and since any car listed in the carpool has the same parking privileges, any car will be wheel locked.
May a member of the carpool remove their car and apply for a new permit?
Yes, however the sole owner of the permit must be present to  remove someone from the carpool listing for that decal.  Any outstanding fines MUST be paid before the listing may be altered.  Then, once removed, that car may be put under another permit.