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Parking Laws and Accessibility

Parking Enforcement

Enforcement occurs year-round, seven days a week, 24 hours per day for fire lanes, disabled parking, and violations that affect the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff members.

  • Parking meters and pay stations are enforced year-round.
  • Parking is enforced in all lots from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
  • Handicap spaces, fire lanes, and all other signed spaces are enforced year-round.
  • All lots close at 10 p.m.
  • No overnight parking is permitted.
    • If there is an emergency situation and your vehicle will be parked overnight, please notify Parking Services or Security Dispatch.
  • All vehicles need a permit, paid meter/pay station, or valid ParkMobile session to park on any CNM property.

Traffic and Parking Laws

The State of New Mexico, County of Bernalillo, and City of Albuquerque traffic and parking laws apply to all CNM campuses.

When driving and parking on CNM campuses, please: 

  • Observe parking and traffic control signs in all parking lots.
  • Avoid restricted spaces.
  • Adhere to the posted speed limit
    • The posted speed limit on campus is 10 mph.
  • Watch for pedestrians. 
    • Within a crosswalk, pedestrians have the right of way at all times.

Citations

If you need to pay or appeal a citation, please visit CNM's parking portal. 

Pay or Appeal Citations

Parking Problems

Report an Accident

Accidents involving motor vehicles or pedestrians must be reported immediately to the Security Department Dispatch on the emergency line at (505) 224-3001.

Booting

Your vehicle will be booted and/or towed after a third citation has been issued along with an orange tow warning to indicate that your vehicle will be towed on the fourth citation. Your vehicle can also be towed or booted if you are parked in a prohibited parking area such as by a loading zone, fire lane, or dumpster.

Impoundment of Vehicles

CNM reserves the right to impound your vehicle without notice for any violation of CNM parking regulations and/or three cumulative unpaid citations.

All boot removals are handled by the CNM Parking Services Department. If your vehicle has been booted or towed, please call (505) 224-3002 for information regarding the boot removal process.

Motor vehicles will be released only after you, as the affected owner/operator/claimant, present current proof of ownership (title, vehicle registration, valid state driver's license) and you have paid outstanding citations and impound fees.

Full Reserved Lots

Possession of a permit does not guarantee a specific parking space. Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A currently reserved permit can be utilized as a general permit in general parking lots.

Security Assistance

The CNM Security Department provides the following motorist assistance if requested:

  1. Jump-start a vehicle (for a maximum of two attempts)
  2. Unlock a car door.
    • Security may be unable to unlock doors with power locks or assist vehicles containing side airbags. 
  3. After-dark escort to your vehicle. 

Please call the non-emergency line at (505) 224-3002 for assistance.

Accessibility Parking

CNM strongly supports the provision of designated parking spaces within a reasonable distance of the College's facilities for individuals with mobility impairment.

Blue-striped areas between accessible parking spaces are designed to provide adequate room to maneuver in and out of your vehicles without obstruction.

Failure to properly display a current, valid state-issued parking permit may result in parking citations and/or the vehicle being towed at the owner's expense.

State-Issued Disabled Placards

CNM honors current state-issued placards and license plates in accordance with ADA and New Mexico State Law.

Vehicles displaying state-issued permits, placards, and license plates may park in open lots with accessible parking spaces. We also recommend you obtain a General Permit which can assist us in locating you in the event of an emergency.

Accessible spaces operate on a first-come, first-served basis. If there are no spaces available, you may park in any general or paid parking space on any CNM campus if you are displaying your state-issued disabled placard. 

Illegal Use

Illegal use of a placard, including unauthorized users displaying the placard, will result in the placard being confiscated by Parking Services. All confiscated placards will be mailed to Motor Vehicle Division in Santa Fe.

Please contact the Parking Services director for more information on the illegal use of handicap placards and CNM's Accessible parking policy.

Disabled Veterans

Disabled Veterans who have a specialty plate can park in accessible parking spaces only if their license plate displays the International Symbol of Accessibility (ISA) (wheelchair symbol) or if they have a placard.

The DV plate without the ISA is not valid to park in a handicap space unless there is also a handicap placard properly displayed. DV plates without the wheelchair symbol are treated as regular license plates and must display a CNM permit.  

Have questions or need help? Contact Us.