Washington State University (WSU) utilizes vehicle license plate recognition (LPR) hardware and software for its parking system. LPR and pay-by-plate technology specifically connects campus-parking permits to individual vehicle license plates. These technology improvements significantly enhance and simplify the customer experience, enforcement, and parking lot utilization analysis.
What happens if I enter my license plate number incorrectly when purchasing a permit?
Entering your vehicle information correctly is vital to the LPR system. If you enter your license plate number incorrectly, you may be subject to a parking ticket. Please double check your information to make sure it is correct.
How will my license plate information be used?
The license plate information collected in this process will only be referenced against the campus database for the strict purpose of verifying WSU Pullman parking permits on campus. The enforcement rules will not change because of this new technology. For more information please read the LPR Privacy Policy.
How can I purchase a virtual permit?
Virtual annual and daily permits may be purchased online at https://parking.wsu.edu/. Ensure License Plate information is correct. License Plates entered incorrectly may be subject to a ticket.
What happens if I don’t have access to a computer or a phone?
You may stop by the WSU Transportation Services office or the Brelsford WSU Visitor Center to purchase a permit.
What if I get a new vehicle or a new license plate?
If your vehicle does not have license plates yet, please either enter the temporary license plate number or contact the Transportation Services office via email or phone with your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It is imperative that your license plate and vehicle information is current and correct in order to avoid an unnecessary ticket. Please visit your online parking account to update your vehicle information immediately. Once you get your permanent license plates, contact Transportation Services to update your account.
What if I have a loaner vehicle or a rental car?
Individuals are allowed to add a “Temporary Replacement”; this includes loaner vehicles and rental cars. It is important that you remove vehicles from your account as soon as your use of the temporary vehicle has ended.
Can I park multiple cars on campus at the same time registered to the same permit?
No, you may only park one vehicle per permit on campus at one time. Individuals who park more than one vehicle with only one parking permit permission on campus at the same time are subject to a parking ticket.
Can I still use my EasyPark in-car meter? I use it when I need to visit across campus and park in a lot I don’t have a permit for. How does a license-plate-recognition scanner know how long is left on my meter?
Yes, you can still use the EasyPark devices. You will display them as you always have. When the license-plate-recognition (LPR) system reads your license plate and recognizes you do not have a permit, the enforcement officers are trained to look for these alternate “permits” before issuing a citation.
How does the switch impact departmental permits?
All departmental permits are still valid. As physical departmental permits expire or the department runs out of them, we have alternate solutions for them within the license-plate-recognition (LPR) system. Please contact WSU Transportation Services to learn more about these options.
Can I still park at the University of Idaho with my WSU parking permit? How will UI Parking know that I have a WSU permit, if I don’t have one displayed in my car?
Yes, you can still park at the University of Idaho. The only difference is that you must print off a physical permit to display in your vehicle. You can obtain this permit by logging into your parking account and selecting the UI Reciprocal option and printing it off. This permit is valid for the current semester.
- NOTE: The same arrangement is made for the WSU Spokane campus reciprocal agreement. The only differences are that you will select the Spokane Reciprocal Permit and a new one must be printed off daily.
My wife/husband and I both work at WSU and we buy two permits. All of our cars are listed on both of our permits in both of our parking accounts. Will there be any problem when we both drive to campus and park?
No. The LPR system will associate the proper permit with the first vehicle. The second vehicle will be associated with the second permit. For example: You and your wife/husband have an Orange 1 and a Green 5, respectively, and both of your vehicles are associated to both permits on both accounts.. You park in Green 1 and your wife/husband parks in Green 5. The LPR vehicle goes through the Green 1 lot first, it will associate the Orange 1 permit to your vehicle as a Green 5 is not valid in Green 1. Then when the LPR vehicle goes through the Green 5 lot, it will recognize that the Orange 1 permit has already been associated to your vehicle and will associate the Green 5 permit to your wife/husband’s vehicle. For additional details, please contact WSU Transportation Services.
I have a Green 2 permit. What happens if I need to drive a different vehicle to campus than the one listed on my online account profile?
If you do not have the alternate vehicle’s license plate associated with your permit in your parking account, you can login to your online parking account at https://parking.wsu.edu and add that license plate to your permit. Or, you can call the Transportation Services office at 509-335-PARK (7275) and we will be happy to add the license plate to your permit in your account for you. Even if you will only have that vehicle for a short time (e.g. a rental car), you must add it to your permit or ask us to do that for you.
I co-pay for a parking permit with a friend who also works on campus, and we carpool as often as possible. So, both of our cars are listed on the permit. What if we need to drive separately to campus on the same day (meaning that only one of us can legally “use” the permit that day)?
As in the past, you can only park one vehicle on campus at a time per permit. If you share an annual permit, and you need to bring both cars to campus at the same time, one of you would have to purchase a daily permit for that day. You can go online (https://parking.wsu.edu)—or use your cellphone—to purchase a daily permit which will automatically be associated with the appropriate license plate. You will need to know your vehicle license plate, make and model.
I buy a permit to park in the Smith Center garage (Orange 3), a place where many people pay to park hourly. If there isn’t an attendant on duty to keep an eye on available spaces, how will I always know that I have a parking space if I have to come and go from the lot during the work day?
In order to ensure Orange 3 permit holders always have a space in the Smith Center garage, we are setting aside an “Orange 3 Permit Only” section on the top floor. Orange 3 permit holders are allowed to park anywhere in the garage; however, if spaces are limited, there will be space available in the Orange 3 Permit Only section.
Will garages have license-plate-recognition sensors on the entrances, or will people have to drive the specially equipped LPR vehicles around in the garages?
Yes, the Terrell Library and Smith Center garages have LPR cameras at the entrances and exits.
How does The LPR system make Transportation Service’s operations more efficient?
LPR increases our efficiency to enforce lots, which results in a greater value for our permit holders. The more efficiently we can enforce lots means we are more likely to find vehicles parked without permits. LPR can be seen as a deterrent for people to park in the lots without permits, which translates to more open parking for those who paid for a permit. Also, in most cases there is no reason for customers to have to come to the Transportation Services office to purchase a permit. Everything can be done online and all you need to have at hand is your vehicle’s license plate, make, and model. This saves our customers time and the hassle of having to come in person to our office.
My friend is a physician who works on campus. Why does she have a physical permit, but I don’t?
Some permits still need to be picked up at our office and displayed, such as Motorcycle, Golden Cougar, Orange 5 MD, Orange 5 HD, Commercial, Mall Service, Service, etc. Please contact Transportation Services if you have a question as to whether or not your physical permit still needs to be displayed.
Since Transportation Services is self-sustaining, does this mean people are losing their jobs because of technology?
No. Our staffing is not changing because of LPR. Our enforcement staff is made up of mostly students (nearly 30 of them) and we still depend on them to help enforce parking rules and do simple lot maintenance.
I am hoping that my family will come to visit me this semester and be here for two or three days. What can I do to help them avoid getting parking tickets when they want to park on campus?
You have several options. For example, if you bought a parking permit for your vehicle for the year, you could add your family’s license plate to your permit in your online account—but remember, only one car can use a permit at a time, so you might want to park off campus during their visit.
If you don’t have a permit (or if you do but want them to have their own) remind your family—or any other visiting guests throughout the year—to go online or use a cellphone to purchase a daily permit for each day they park on campus.
As always, guests can contact Transportation Services to ask about specific needs or with special questions. We are happy to help welcome everyone to campus.
Why do I have to pay to park?
WSU Transportation Services is a self-supported auxiliary and does not receive federal, state, grant or tuition funding. Revenue for capital projects, maintenance, and operations comes solely from parking fees and fines.
Why does Transportation Services block lots off during events?
Being that a majority of our large venues/events are located in the core of campus (Football, Basketball, commencement, etc.), this requires parking lots to be cleared in order to accommodate the large number of visitors these events draw.
Can I buy a permit from someone other than Transportation Services?
No. The only place you can buy a permit to park on the WSU Pullman Campus is from WSU Transportation Services.
Can someone else use my permit?
Yes. If you purchase a permit together with someone else, you can both use it as long as both vehicle license plates are associated to the permit. However, you cannot both use the permit at the same time. Only one car may park on campus at any given time.
Do I have to purchase a permit during open permit sales? (i.e. I am bringing my car to campus later in the year.)
No. Permits are sold all year based on availability. Permits are prorated based on the time of purchase, the prorate schedule can be found at: https://transportation.wsu.edu/permits/
What is needed to purchase a permit?
You will need to know your vehicle make, color and license plate. Ensuring your license plate is accurate on your parking account is very important as your parking permissions are tied to your license plate.
I do not have a car, what are my options for transportation around Pullman? What are my options to return home over break?
To get around campus and the city of Pullman, Pullman Transit, Zipcar, Zimride and Biking/Walking are all great options. Additionally, you can checkout and rent a Coug Bike (UREC program) at one of the 11 stations around campus. (https://transportation.wsu.edu/transportation-options/)
To get home over breaks, Wheatland Express provides service for weekend and holiday trips to the greater Seattle area and Spokane International Airport. In addition, seasonal service is available to other parts of the Northwest including Tacoma, Tri-Cities, and Portland/Vancouver. (https://transportation.wsu.edu/transportation-options/)
Don’t see the answer to your question?
Please contact WSU Transportation Services at transportation@wsu.edu or 509-335-PARK (7275)
