The MOTOR VEHICLE POLICY shall be in effect on the first day of classes Fall Term through the Final Exam Spring term, including midterm breaks, winter and spring vacation/break. While attending Carleton College, students are not permitted to drive or possess motor vehicles (cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other such licensable motor vehicles) within the city limits of Northfield except as outlined in the policy.

A student desiring to drive or park on campus for any other reason must first obtain permission from the Administrator of the Student Motor Vehicle Policy. The term “campus” is used as defined in Article I of the Student Judicial Code.

Any student desiring to maintain a motor vehicle in Northfield after the first day of classes must obtain permission to do so. Unauthorized student vehicles parked on campus or in Northfield after the first day of classes of each term will be subject to a fine, autoclamp, or towing at the owner's expense.

Applications for such approval must be submitted to the Administrator of the Student Motor Vehicle Policy. Students granted permission to keep a vehicle in Northfield will be issued a parking permit. The parking permit must be affixed to the rear bumper of the vehicle. Applications for Fall Term must be submitted and approved prior to the first day of classes, and applications to maintain a vehicle in Northfield for either Winter or Spring Term must be submitted prior to the end of the previous term. For students who live in non-College-owned housing, permission will be granted for the remainder of that academic year only, and only for consecutive terms in which the individual is registered as a student at the College. Applications for renewal must be submitted prior to the beginning of Winter or Spring Term. Those students whose applications are received after the available spaces have been assigned will be asked to remove their motor vehicles from Northfield. For this reason it is required that students obtain permission before they bring motor vehicles to Northfield.

Out of respect for Northfield residents who live near the College, students living in non-college owned housing should avoid parking their vehicle in the neighborhood adjacent to campus.

A student may request permission to drive a vehicle to Northfield and to keep it in “dead storage” for the duration of the term. An off-street parking space will be assigned on a first come, first served basis and the motor vehicle must be stored in that space; failure to comply will result in loss of the privilege of maintaining a vehicle in Northfield or a fine. Once parking stalls reserved for student use are assigned to capacity, students will be responsible for securing their own off-street, off-campus parking space. No student in residence at Carleton will be permitted to store a motor vehicle on the city streets.

A fee of $75 per term will be charged for storage or parking of a motor vehicle on campus. If students have arranged to store vehicles elsewhere and can provide their own off-street parking space (e.g., renting a garage), they may do so; however, the vehicle must still be registered with Security Services. A student may register their vehicle for the entire academic year during the Fall term at a fee of $200 plus tax. If registering for the Winter and Spring term only, the fee is $125 plus tax.

Students may start and run the engine of a vehicle kept in “dead storage” if they feel it is desirable to do so.

Students of any of the following categories may apply to the Administrator of the Student Motor Vehicle Policy for “approved use” status for one motor vehicle:

1. students living in non-College housing off campus who will provide their own off-street parking space (vehicle registration for this category is valid for the entire academic year and there is no parking registration fee assessed);
2. students living in College-owned housing who have one-half or less of a board contract with the College (limit of one vehicle per house or living unit). An off-street parking space will be assigned if available and the motor vehicle must be stored in that space; failure to comply will result in loss of the privilege of maintaining a motor vehicle in Northfield or a fine;
3. students showing proof of employment during the term and demonstrating that a vehicle is required a) to get to and from the place of employment, or b) in the performance of the student's duties on behalf of the employer. An off-street parking space will be assigned if available and the motor vehicle must be stored in that space; failure to comply will result in loss of the privilege of maintaining a motor vehicle in Northfield or a fine.

Any student will be permitted to drive an “approved use” vehicle for any purpose except they may not be driven or parked on campus other than in their assigned parking lot. No student in residence at Carleton will be permitted to park their vehicle overnight on a city street. Students who use personal vehicles for College business are advised that by law every motor vehicle which is operated on the public roads, streets and highways in Minnesota must be covered by proper no-fault and liability insurance. Under the financial responsibility law for the State of Minnesota, an owner is legally responsible for his or her own automobile when the car is being used by a second party. He or she becomes liable for any negligence of the driver of the car. For this reason we ask that all faculty, staff, and students who use or loan their cars for authorized college trips be sure that satisfactory limits of insurance for bodily injury, property damage, and medical payments are carried.

Use of a vehicle in dead storage will be permitted if approved in advance by the Administrator of the Student Motor Vehicle Policy for such temporary needs as:

1. medical requirements (supported by a physician's statement);
2. family emergencies;
3. off-campus study or social service activities for which there are limited means of transportation;
4. testing or interviewing for employment or further educational study;
5. transportation to and from religious services;
6. repair or maintenance work.

Students may drive commercially rented cars for personal use, provided that they drive them as directly and expeditiously as possible from the rental firm to a point outside of Northfield, and, upon returning to Northfield, drive them as directly and expeditiously as possible back to the rental firm.

Students will also be permitted to drive their employer's vehicle in the performance of their duties on behalf of the employer.

Students possessing a motor vehicle for a period of up to two weeks must obtain a temporary parking permit from the Administrator of the Student Motor Vehicle Policy. Vehicles issued a temporary permit must park in a lot assigned by the Administrator of the Student Motor Vehicle Policy.

Students leaving their vehicle on campus during Winter/Summer vacation must obtain permission and parking assignment from the Administrator of the Student Motor Vehicle Policy. Failure to obtain such permission may result in the owner being responsible for substantial towing and storage fees.