STATUTE TO REGULATE TRAFFIC ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - CLAMPING AND REMOVAL OF ENCUMBERING OBJECTS

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 327.422

STATUTE TO REGULATE TRAFFIC

ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - CLAMPING

AND REMOVAL OF ENCUMBERING OBJECTS

22nd February, 2012

LEGAL NOTICE 76 of 2012, as amended by Legal Notice 32 of 2026.

The title of this Statute is the Statute to Regulate Traffic on

University Campus - Clamping and Removal of Encumbering

Objects

In this Statute, unless the context otherwise requires -

"Appeals Committee" means a committee composed of, ex

officio, the University’s Director of Finance, the University’s

Director of Estates, Facilities and Capital Development, and a

lawyer from the University’s Legal Services Directorate.

"clamping zone" and "towing zone" mean any such place or area

as may be indicated by notice issued by the Rector, Estate and

Works Manager or the Precincts Officer and by means of signs and

markings in terms of the provisions of the Traffic Signs and

Carriageway Markings Regulations, where the prohibited parking

of vehicles is subject to the fixing of clamps to wheels or the

towing away of such vehicles from such zone as the case may be;

"encumbering objects" means any motor vehicle, sea craft or any

other thing obstructing or otherwise impeding, causing nuisance or

inconvenience in any passage way, covered walkway and public

area, access ramp, garage door, car park entrance, parking bay for

disabled Blue Badge holders and any reserved parking bay or any

other place as indicated with the relevant signage;

"University" means the University of Malta;

"vehicles" include but are not limited to automobiles, trucks,

motorcycles, motor-scooters, electric cars, bicycles and mopeds.

Unless otherwise provided for by these rules and

regulations, all signs and markings in terms of the provisions of

Traffic Signs and Carriageway Markings Regulations shall be

applicable on all of the University property without distinction.

This includes but is not limited to posted speed limits, traffic signs,

and other traffic control devices.

The Precincts Office is responsible for the traffic

management at the University.

Vehicle owners are themselves responsible for loss,

damages or theft to their vehicles and, or their contents whilst the

vehicles are on University property. The University assumes no

responsibility for the damage to or theft of any vehicle or its

contents whilst the vehicle is parked or driven on campus. The

University is not responsible for damage that may occur whilst a

vehicle is impounded, relocated, or when a Public Safety Officer or

other employee is assisting in a help-related service.

(a) It is the responsibility of the individual operating a

vehicle on the University premises to understand and

comply with the Statute to Regulate Traffic. Failure to

do so will lead to enforcement actions;

(b) Rules and regulations contained in this Statute can be

enforced by any Parking Services Employee, any

Public Safety Officer and any other authorized

University official. The University reserves the right

to either relocate vehicles, have them clamped or

impounded through the services of third parties

including an off-campus agency.

The parking of a motor vehicle on the University property

is a privilege, granted by the University and is not an inherent right

of any employee, student or visitor. The University reserves the

right to revoke parking privileges at any time it so decides.

Vehicles located on the University premises found to belong to

individuals whose parking privileges have been revoked will be

removed immediately at the owner’s expense.

The University requires all members of the University

community to comply with all applicable laws while driving any

motor vehicles in connection with University related activities or

business. This includes vehicles owned by the University.

The University shall be held exempt from any liability for

whatever damage is suffered in connection with the fixing of

clamps or their removal, in the storage and disposal of encumbering

objects. Any person found guilty of acting out of malice or found

guilty of gross negligence in the performance of his duties during

the fixing or removal of the clamps, or the storage or the disposal

of vehicles, shall not be exonerated from liability for the damages

caused.

Bicycles must park in bicycle racks or facilities provided

for bike storage.

It is forbidden for vehicles (including motor homes or

campers) to be used as living units whilst parked on the University

premises. The use of parking spaces as private storage areas for

vehicles, boats, trailers, and other objects that can impede the free

flow of traffic or the use of parking spots for their legitimate

intended use is forbidden.

Anyone parking or driving vehicles inside any University

property where such use of vehicles is forbidden will be issued with

the proper summons and the vehicle will be removed at the owner’s

own expense.

Any measure taken by the University under this Statute

shall not prejudice criminal or civil action against offending

parties.

The traffic and parking regulations as specified in this

Statute shall apply twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a

week including holidays.

The University reserves the right to change its Statute to

Regulate Traffic at any time it so decides.

Parking permits are issued to University employees,

students and visitors

(a) all vehicles parked on campus must visibly display a

valid University parking permit. Vehicles must be

parked in the area indicated on the permit issued.

Otherwise the vehicle will be considered as illegally

parked. Permits must be displayed in a manner so that

the permit type is easily distinguishable and the permit

numbers visible and legible. Failure to display permits

in the stated manner will be considered a violation of

these rules and may result in penalties contemplated

by this Statute;

(b) a parking permit issued by the Precincts Office does

not guarantee the availability of a parking space which

may not be available such as in the case of

construction projects or special events;

(c) tampering with, altering or in any way forging

duplicates of official University parking permits is

prohibited;

(d) the cost of replacing a lost University parking permit

is €25, except where the permit needs to be replaced in

the case of the vehicle being stolen or in the case of

providing evidence of a forcible entry into the vehicle

as a result of which an officially issued permit was

stolen.

Parking is not permitted

(a) in areas which are allocated for disabled persons, are

marked as reserved, or in other special areas unless

special permits have been issued by the University;

(b) in areas allocated for electric vehicles; provided that

such areas can be used by students, University

employees or visitors, displaying a duly-issued

parking permit in terms of this statute, for the purposes

of charging their electric vehicle for a maximum

allowed duration of four hours;

(c) in any area which is clearly marked “Keep Clear”;

(d) in pedestrian crosswalks, driveways, landscaped or soft

areas, on sidewalks or in any manner that impedes

pedestrian or the easy flow of vehicle traffic;

(e) within one metre of a sidewalk kerb which is reserved

for wheelchair access.

Reserved parking slots are available for the University

high officials, Deans and Directors. Reserved parking slot holders

may not park in any parking space other than their own. Reserved

parking slot holders may authorize others to park in their allotted

slot granted they duly notify the Precincts Office. University

STATUTE TO REGULATE TRAFFIC ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

- CLAMPING AND REMOVAL OF ENCUMBERING OBJECTS

reserved spaces include

(a) temporary-Reserved: parking slots, which will be

clearly marked by the use of cones and, or barricades,

can be reserved for a time period for specific

individuals or groups;

(b) University Vehicle Only: parking reserved for official

University vehicles;

(c) Slots for disabled persons/Access Corridors: Slots and

their adjacent access corridors are reserved for

vehicles displaying valid disabled Blue Badge permits

issued by the Commission of Police.

Temporary disabled parking permits are also issued by the

University. These permits are available to persons who present a

verifiable note from a medical doctor stating that the person needs

disability access for a specified period of time. These vehicles must

also display the relevant valid parking permit.

Reserved spaces are reserved twenty-four (24) hours a day

and seven (7) days a week. Unauthorized vehicles illegally

occupying these spaces or blocking access to either a space

earmarked for disabled persons or their wheelchair access corridor

will be penalised according to the rules of this Statute and will be

subject to vehicle removal, relocation or will be impounded at the

owner’s expense.

Parking permits are available as follows

(a) to all registered University students. Parking for

students is restricted to blue lined non reserved

parking spaces around campus;

(b) to all full and part-time Council appointed academic

staff. Parking for academic staff is restricted to yellow

lined non reserved parking spaces;

(c) to all full and part-time Council appointed non-

academic staff. Parking for non-academic staff is

restricted to white lined non reserved parking spaces;

(d) to Junior College academic, administrative and

technical staff. Parking for Junior College academic

staff is restricted to yellow lined non reserved parking

spaces, whilst parking for administrative and technical

staff is restricted to white lined non-reserved parking

spaces;

(e) to graduates of the University. These visitors may

obtain a University of Malta Alumni Card from the

Communications and Alumni Office which will entitle

them to daily visitor parking permits. Parking for

graduates is restricted to white spaces;

(f)

to the visitors of the University. Visitors are required

to display a valid visitor parking permit for each day

they wish to park on campus. Permits may be obtained

from the main entrance to campus against evidence of

the need for entry. Parking for visitors will be

available on all non-reserved parking spaces;

(g) to non-employee group permits. These must be sought

from the Precincts Office in advance on condition the

host department or individual confirms to the Office

the need of a non-employee parking permit;

(h) for Special Event parking. Arrangements for these

events must be made with the Precincts Office as soon

as the events are scheduled. Requests for such permits

must reach the Precincts Office thirty (30) days in

advance in order to allow enough time for the Office to

adequately plan the setting up of parking facilities for

the special event. The Precincts Office will charge a

fee against such requests to cover the availability of a

Public Safety officer present during such special

events.

Failure to observe rules and regulations in this Statute can

lead to the following enforcement actions

(a) the University may remove and relocate any

encumbering object causing nuisance, inconvenience

or obstruction to traffic and, or any encumbering

object in a place or space not permitted by the

University for the use of such purposes, or if such a

place or space is specifically indicated as a towing

zone;

(b) it shall be lawful for the University to fix wheel

clamps to any motor vehicle parked or left unattended

in an area specifically indicated as a clamping zone.

Vehicles will also be clamped if they are unidentified

or are parked in the wrong parking slots;

(c) the relocation of vehicles may take place when a

vehicle is parked in a reserved space, reserved area, or

deemed to be obstructing traffic, parking, or access to

buildings. Vehicles that are relocated to another area

on campus may be retrieved by the registered owner

against the payment of a fine. Vehicles that are

impounded can be removed from campus by a person

or agency authorised by the University. Vehicles will

be released to the registered owner against payment of

the relevant fee. During the course of relocation or

impounding, it may be necessary for an authorised

University employee or the towing agency to access

the vehicle and this will be considered proper and

lawful;

(d) the University shall publish a Notice of Removal at the

Security main gate or at the Precincts Office,

describing the encumbering object removed and

indicating the exact location from where it was

removed and the holding ground from where it can be

retrieved;

(e) abandoned vehicles on University premises whose

owners cannot be traced, will be reported to the

Maltese Police Force for further action.

All summons and fines related to violations of this Statute

including the towing and clamping of vehicles are the

responsibility of the person in whose name the vehicle is registered

with the University, regardless of whether they are the offending

driver or owner of the vehicle.

(a) The following fines will be enforced in the case of

violations

Car clamping .................................................. €23.00

Car towing ...................................................... €80.00

The Council reserves the right to review these charges

at its discretion. Any eventual reviews of these charges

will be publicised by the Finance Office.

In addition to the possibility of the withdrawal of a parking

permit pursuant to statute 24(c), the University may also withdraw

a parking permit, for a temporary period or permanently, in the

event that the permit holder (whether a student, University

employee or visitor) is found to have

(i)

driven at excessive speed on University campus;

(ii) knowingly forged, tampered with, or duplicated, a

parking permit issued to them in accordance with this

Statute, whether for their personal use or for the use of

third parties;

(iii) knowingly allowed any third party to use a parking

permit issued to them in accordance with this Statute;

or

(iv) committed an offence against this Statute more than

once, whether the offences are the same or are

different types of offences.

(b) Fines are to be paid at the Maltapost branch at the

University. Those wishing to object to the fine

imposed must lodge an appeal to the Appeals

Committee within fourteen (14) calendar days from

the date of the summons being issued. Fees due must

be paid in full, prior to launching an appeal. The

Appeals Committee will meet at least once per

calendar month in order to consider, and decide on any

appeals made in terms of this statute.

(c) Failure to pay the relative fine may lead to the

following

(i)

students failing to pay the fine may be prevented

from registering for classes, or from obtaining

academic records and transcripts;

(ii) students, University employees or visitors

failing to pay the fine may have their vehicle

impounded; or

(iii) students or University employees failing to pay the

fine may result in the withdrawal of their respective

parking permit, either for a temporary period or

permanently.

Any unauthorised person who attempts to remove or

removes wheel clamps fixed to a motor vehicle, shall be guilty of

an offence against this Statute.

Wheel clamps shall not be removed by the University nor

shall the vehicle be returned to its owner before fees levied by the

University in terms of this Statute have been paid.

Should an owner fail to retrieve his vehicle or fail to pay

pending fines, the Precincts office will report the case to the

Maltese Police Force for further action.