Frequently Asked Questions

What is License Plate Recognition?

In the summer of 2017, the SOU Parking Department implemented a new parking software system called NuPark, which utilizes the latest License Plate Recognition (LPR) Technology. The SOU Parking Department vehicles have LPR cameras on them that scan license plates while driving through the parking lots. With this new system, permits have all become “virtual” instead of the former “physical” (decals and hang tags) permits used previously on campus. A virtual permit is registered to a vehicle’s license plate, and is not a physical permit placed on or inside the vehicle.

A Long Term virtual permit may only be sold to SOU Students, faculty, and staff; they must be purchased online through the parking services website portal (sou.nupark.com/portal) using an SOU email and password. Non SOU Students, faculty, and staff may purchase short term virtual permits at the parking meters or via the PaybyPhone smartphone app. 

Why do I have to pay for parking?

The SOU Parking Department is self-sustainable, as mandated by the State of Oregon, and does not receive any public or SOU general funds to support it. The costs of salaries, resurfacing, painting, and regular parking lot maintenance is paid for through permit sales, event fees, parking meter revenue, and citation fees.

I bought a long term virtual permit, why did I receive a citation?

This often happens when the license plate number was entered incorrectly at the time you purchased your permit. Please make sure to include all letters and numbers in the exact order, also make sure the state is correct. To verify the plate you registered, log into the parking portal to manage your vehicles. If you find the plate is incorrect (does not match plate number printed on citation), delete that vehicle and add it back with the correct plate number.

Another possibility is that you previously purchased a single term parking permit, and if it is now into a new term your permit has expired. If that is the case you will want to log back into the parking portal and purchase the current term virtual parking permit. 

If you have verified the above options and are still unsure why you received a citation, please email parking@sou.edu and we will look into it further.

Is there any free parking on campus?

There is no free parking on campus except for Raider Orientation and Registration (ROAR) days, and SOU Graduation Day. Some parking lots do have timed parking spaces that do not require a parking permit. Timed parking spaces are each individually marked with a posted sign at the front of the parking space, and the time period allowed to park there is stated on the sign. Parking for longer than the posted time period could result in a parking citation.

How do visitors get parking permits, and where may they park?

SOU Guests/Visitors (Non registered SOU students or employees) can purchase short term virtual parking permits by either at one of our 7 parking meters across campus, or through the PayByPhone smartphone app. For more information about short term permits and where/when you may park with them, please click on the "Parking Permits: Short Term" link on the Parking Services Menu.

How SOU Students/Employees purchase a parking permit?

 Please login to the NuPark Portal: https://sou.nupark.com/portal

If you have an active SOU email, use those credentials to log in on the left side of the screen. Do not create a visitor account.

For more information on permit types, click on the “Parking Permits” link on the parking website.

How do I Register Multiple Vehicles to my Virtual Permit?

Once you have chosen the type of permit you want, and after you have entered your vehicle(s) information into the portal, you will see a screen that says “Add a Vehicle”. Hold down the “CTRL” button on your keyboard and click on each vehicle to highlight the ones you want actively registered to your permit. Once all the vehicles that you want registered are highlighted in red, click the “Next/Save” button. On the next page, it will say “Permit & Vehicle Information”. Under that header, you will see “license plate”. Make sure that it has all the license plates listed next to it that you want registered to your permit. If all the plates are there, continue filling out the form to complete permit purchase. If the plates are not all there, click the “back” button to go back and re select the vehicles. NOTE: Although you can have multiple vehicles registered to your permit, you may only have ONE of those vehicles parked on campus at a time. If multiple vehicles registered to the same virtual permit are parked on campus at the same time, you could receive a parking citation for “fraudulent use of a permit”.

Can I return my parking permit for a refund?

Annual permits can only be returned for a prorated refund if requested during the first term of the academic year (fall term). 

Single term permits can only be returned for a refund if requested within the first two weeks of that term.

Payment Refunds:

-If you have an outstanding balance for parking citations: you can still request a permit return, however any refund will first be applied towards paying off that balance. 

-All refunds will be returned via the same payment method in which the permit was originally purchased:

If you purchased your permit with a credit/debit card, any refunds will be applied back onto that card.

If you purchased your permit via tuition charge (available to students only), any refunds will be applied as a credit onto your SOU account.

If you chose the payment option of Payroll Deduction (available to employees only), payroll will cancel the automated $25/month deductions from your paycheck starting on the next pay period. 

To request a permit return, please email parking@sou.edu. 

What are the different colored dots in parking spaces?

The parking lots will all have entrance signs stating the parking zone type: Faculty/Staff, Student Commuter, Student Resident, and Meter Guest Parking.  Some parking lots allow for multiple permit zone types, so the parking spaces will each have one or more colored dots painted in them, which correspond with what virtual permit types are permitted to park. Yellow dots represent Faculty/Staff virtual permit parking, Green dots represent student commuter virtual permit parking, Red dots represent student resident virtual permit parking, and White dots represent metered permit guest parking.

Why do I want to buy a permit?

A full year permit is a great value in time and cost savings. If you are either a full or part time student/employee, purchasing a long term permit is the most cost effective option. These permits also eliminate the need to pay for short term hourly permits each time you come to campus. Annual Permits cost $140 for students, and $150 for faculty/staff. We now also offer single term virtual permits for students and faculty/staff for $50 a term. 

I purchased a permit but am driving a loaner car, what do I do?

You can log into the NuPark Portal and update the vehicle license plate that you will be driving temporarily. Once you have your original vehicle back, you can log back in and update that vehicle back to your virtual permit. If you do this, please MAKE SURE to delete the loaner/rental car from your account after you no longer have it. If you forget to do this step, you could be responsible for future citations that car might receive. If you no longer own a vehicle plate that is attached to your account, make sure you remove it so it is no longer associated with you.

The close parking lots are all full, now what?

Purchasing a virtual permit does not guarantee you a parking space. Because space is limited, parking spots are first come first serve. Many parking lots often full up during peak hours. However, parking is usually available a little further out in lots: 12, 30, 34, 36 & 41.

I have a DMV issued disabled placard, why do I need to purchase a permit?

All vehicles parking on campus are required to purchase a virtual permit or pay at one of the parking meters. If you have a valid DMV placard issued by the state, you may park in any of the student commuter, student resident, and faculty/staff lots with any valid virtual permit or meter receipt. Just make sure your disabled placard is visible for our enforcement officers to see.

I received a parking citation. Now what?

You have 15 calendar days to file an appeal or pay the citation. For information on paying or appealing a citation, please click on the "Citation Payments & Appeals Link". If you have questions regarding the citation, please email parking@sou.edu. 

How do I appeal my citation?

You have 15 calendar days to file an appeal or pay the citation. For information on paying or appealing a citation, please click on the "Citation Payments & Appeals Link".

What happens if I have multiple unpaid parking citations?

(1) Vehicles parked on campus with three or more outstanding parking citations may be booted or towed at the owner's expense.

(2) In order to identify the owner of vehicles with outstanding parking fines, the parking department will run the license plate through the DMV for the registered owner information. Outstanding fines will then be billed to the registered owner provided by the DMV. A DMV research fee of $10 will be added to the original outstanding fine amount.

(3) The right to purchase a permit or register for classes may be denied if any fines owing under these regulations remain unpaid.

(4) Vehicle owners who fail to pay their outstanding fines may be subjected to University collection policies and practices of up to and including assignment to an outside collection agency.

(5) A faculty or staff member who fails to pay the University for any outstanding parking fines may have the fine deducted from his/her payroll check 30 days after written notice of the outstanding fines.

(6) Any University personnel or students may contact Parking Services to transfer responsibility for citations received by their guests to themselves. This in no way implies the fine will be suspended, only that the guest will not be billed or pursued to pay the fine. The University personnel or students will be responsible and have all avenues of appeal available as if the citation were issued to them personally.

I put money in the meter and it didn’t give me a ticket, now what?

Since our campus uses license plate recognition, a physical reciept from the parking meter is not required to be displayed on your dashboard. As long as you entered your license plate correctly at the meter before payment, your vehicle will become registered to park for the amount of time paid for. If a meter receipt doesn't print out, you might not have clicked the "okay" button when prompted if you would like a receipt. If you do not respond to that message, the meter will auto default to not print out a receipt. To report any mechanical malfunctions, please call: (541) 552-PARK. In your message, please state the lot number that you are in, and the vehicle license plate that you are driving. If you believe your card was charged incorrectly at one of the parking meters, please email parking@sou.edu with the details (date, time, purchase amount) and we will look into it further.

Where can I park my motorcycle or scooter?

Motorcycles and scooters are considered "vehicles" and must have a valid virtual permit (long or short term). They can share the signed “motorcycle parking only” spaces in any posted lot. As long as you have a valid virtual permit registered to the motorcycle's license plate, you may also park it in any regular parking space (as long as it is a zone that your virtual permit is permitted to park in).

Is there somewhere I can park my Electric Vehicle?

There are charging stations in lot #8 and lot #27. The time limit is four hours maximum. You must have a valid virtual permit (long or short term) for your electric vehicle to park in these spaces and use the charging spaces. All vehicles parked in EV spaces must be plugged in and charging at the station. 

My car battery died, can I get a jump start?

Yes, the Campus Public Safety Department does vehicle jump starts at no cost, as long as you are parked in an SOU lot. You will first need to sign a liability waiver that the officer will provide you with at the time of the jumpstart.

If you need a jumpstart, please call the Campus Public Safety Officer Dispatch number at (541) 552-6911. Be prepared to give the exact location of the vehicle (parking lot numbers are posted on each lot entrance sign). Make sure to stay with your vehicle until the officer arrives on scene.