Parking offices at four Penn State campuses, including Penn State Behrend, have begun to implement License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology and a new mobile payment platform. The new approach, which aligns with parking regulations at Penn State’s University Park campus, will affect students, faculty, staff and visitors who park on campus.
All vehicles must be parked with the license plate facing the drive aisle. Permit-holders who prefer to back into parking spaces will have the option to purchase a special front license plate from the Parking Services Office.
The LPR technology also is being implemented at Penn State Abington, Penn State Altoona and Penn State Harrisburg.
The campuses will transition to virtual parking permits. The roll-out will be phased, and permit-holders will be notified before changes take effect.
What does this mean for students?
Students will be issued virtual parking permits, which are linked to license plates. Permits may be purchased online.
Students can register multiple vehicles under the same permit but can only park one vehicle on campus at a time.
What changes for faculty and staff?
Faculty and staff whose permits expired on Aug. 16 should continue to display that tag when parking on campus. No other changes are required at this time.
New employees will need to print a paper permit when they register a vehicle through the Commonwealth Campus Parking Portal. That temporary permit should be displayed on the vehicle’s dashboard until LPR enforcement begins.
All employees will be notified when virtual permits are ready for faculty and staff.
What are the rules for visitors?
Campus visitors can pay for parking through the HONK parking app, or by scanning QR codes that will be posted in visitor parking lots. Payments will be linked to the visitor’s license plate.