[Steven Eramo]

We do by way of Kelley & Ryan (https://kelleyryan.com/) who handles all of the mailings, RMV marks, and fees.

?

Our policy and schedule is as follows ? note we do not enact any late fees despite our right to do so, but the $20 mark fee to the RMV is assessed.

If parking citations issued on campus are not paid or appealed after 21 days, a $5 late fee will be added and the citation sent to a third-party processing center and must be paid to?Kelly & Ryan Associates, Inc. Deputy Collector. A late notice will also be sent to the vehicle owner at the mailing address listed at the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

If no action is taken after 60 days of the citation, an additional state-issued $20 fee will be added to the fine and the citation will be sent to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The driver’s license and registration of the registered owner will not be eligible for renewal until the citation and additional fees are paid.

All money collected from the base parking fines on campus is deposited into the student scholarship fund.

——————————
Steven Eramo
Lieutenant
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell MA
United States
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 04-01-2025 14:08
From: Patrick Foley
Subject: MA Colleges Parking & RMV

Good Afternoon,

I am looking for any information from fellow universities and colleges in Massachusetts in regard to parking enforcement that is tied to the RMV. During my time at a state school if parking tickets were not paid or otherwise rectified it impacted their ability to renew their motor vehicle registration. I am assuming that this was possible because it was a state school, but I wanted to double check and explore all my options. Our college currently has nearly $45,000.00 worth of unpaid parking fines and an additional $20,000 in fines that are not college affiliated individuals (guests/visitors) and we are struggling to recoup these fines. Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

——————————
Patrick Foley
Chief of Police & Director of Public Safety
Curry College
Milton MA
United States
——————————

[Matthew Rushton]

Chief,

At my prior institution-a public university-parking enforcement operated through mechanisms integrated with municipal or county systems. In Massachusetts, G.L. c. 90, ? 20A allows municipalities (that have accepted the statute) to designate a parking clerk who can report unpaid parking violations to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). Once two or more unpaid notices are on file, the RMV may block the renewal of the vehicle’s registration or the owner’s license until the fines are resolved. This statute applies exclusively to municipalities and cannot be used by private institutions. In that environment, BSU was able to enforce parking compliance through its connection with Plymouth County.

At my current private institution, enforcement authority is far more limited. There is no statutory mechanism available that permits private colleges or universities to report violations to the RMV or initiate a registration block. As a result, enforcement must rely on physical remedies-such as towing-and on contractual obligations tied to campus parking policies.

Some universities (including us previously) instruct a tow company to “hold” a vehicle until outstanding tickets are paid or a payment plan is arranged, several legal concerns come into play. Under G.L. c. 266, ? 120D, towing from private property is allowed with proper signage, but the authority to detain a vehicle ends once towing and storage fees are paid. Holding a vehicle beyond that point-especially as leverage for unpaid fines unrelated to that specific tow-may exceed lawful enforcement limits.

A “hold” for unrelated debts could expose both the institution and the tow company to civil liability for conversion or wrongful detention. Since tow companies act as bailees, they are legally obligated to return property once the lawful charges are satisfied. Detaining a vehicle for non-statutory reasons could lead to a viable legal claim from the vehicle owner.

Given those risks, I recommend avoiding any instruction to the tow yard to hold vehicles based on unpaid fines. Instead:

• Tow consistently for each new violation, especially for repeat offenders.

• Ensure all signage complies with ? 120D-posted clearly at every lot entrance and stating towing is enforced.

• Explore vehicle immobilization (booting), if permitted locally, as a potentially safer alternative.

• Use internal administrative tools-such as student conduct holds or account flags-to encourage compliance.

• Coordinate with legal counsel and your tow vendor to ensure enforcement practices are fully compliant and clearly outlined in contract terms.

Best,

Matt

——————————
Matthew Rushton
Assistant Vice President of Public Safety & Chief of Police
Brandeis University
Waltham MA
United States
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 04-01-2025 21:27
From: Steven Eramo
Subject: MA Colleges Parking & RMV

We do by way of Kelley & Ryan (https://kelleyryan.com/) who handles all of the mailings, RMV marks, and fees.

?

Our policy and schedule is as follows ? note we do not enact any late fees despite our right to do so, but the $20 mark fee to the RMV is assessed.

If parking citations issued on campus are not paid or appealed after 21 days, a $5 late fee will be added and the citation sent to a third-party processing center and must be paid to?Kelly & Ryan Associates, Inc. Deputy Collector. A late notice will also be sent to the vehicle owner at the mailing address listed at the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

If no action is taken after 60 days of the citation, an additional state-issued $20 fee will be added to the fine and the citation will be sent to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The driver’s license and registration of the registered owner will not be eligible for renewal until the citation and additional fees are paid.

All money collected from the base parking fines on campus is deposited into the student scholarship fund.

——————————
Steven Eramo
Lieutenant
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell MA
United States
——————————

Original Message:
Sent: 04-01-2025 14:08
From: Patrick Foley
Subject: MA Colleges Parking & RMV

Good Afternoon,

I am looking for any information from fellow universities and colleges in Massachusetts in regard to parking enforcement that is tied to the RMV. During my time at a state school if parking tickets were not paid or otherwise rectified it impacted their ability to renew their motor vehicle registration. I am assuming that this was possible because it was a state school, but I wanted to double check and explore all my options. Our college currently has nearly $45,000.00 worth of unpaid parking fines and an additional $20,000 in fines that are not college affiliated individuals (guests/visitors) and we are struggling to recoup these fines. Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

——————————
Patrick Foley
Chief of Police & Director of Public Safety
Curry College
Milton MA
United States
——————————

[Matthew Rushton]

I should also add, we now place registration holds (meaning for classes) to get students to pay in order to register for the upcoming semester.

——————————
Matthew Rushton
Assistant Vice President of Public Safety & Chief of Police
Brandeis University
Waltham MA
United States
——————————
——————————————-
Original Message:
Sent: 04-02-2025 15:16
From: Matthew Rushton
Subject: MA Colleges Parking & RMV

Chief,

At my prior institution-a public university-parking enforcement operated through mechanisms integrated with municipal or county systems. In Massachusetts, G.L. c. 90, ? 20A allows municipalities (that have accepted the statute) to designate a parking clerk who can report unpaid parking violations to the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). Once two or more unpaid notices are on file, the RMV may block the renewal of the vehicle’s registration or the owner’s license until the fines are resolved. This statute applies exclusively to municipalities and cannot be used by private institutions. In that environment, BSU was able to enforce parking compliance through its connection with Plymouth County.

At my current private institution, enforcement authority is far more limited. There is no statutory mechanism available that permits private colleges or universities to report violations to the RMV or initiate a registration block. As a result, enforcement must rely on physical remedies-such as towing-and on contractual obligations tied to campus parking policies.

Some universities (including us previously) instruct a tow company to “hold” a vehicle until outstanding tickets are paid or a payment plan is arranged, several legal concerns come into play. Under G.L. c. 266, ? 120D, towing from private property is allowed with proper signage, but the authority to detain a vehicle ends once towing and storage fees are paid. Holding a vehicle beyond that point-especially as leverage for unpaid fines unrelated to that specific tow-may exceed lawful enforcement limits.

A “hold” for unrelated debts could expose both the institution and the tow company to civil liability for conversion or wrongful detention. Since tow companies act as bailees, they are legally obligated to return property once the lawful charges are satisfied. Detaining a vehicle for non-statutory reasons could lead to a viable legal claim from the vehicle owner.

Given those risks, I recommend avoiding any instruction to the tow yard to hold vehicles based on unpaid fines. Instead:

• Tow consistently for each new violation, especially for repeat offenders.

• Ensure all signage complies with ? 120D-posted clearly at every lot entrance and stating towing is enforced.

• Explore vehicle immobilization (booting), if permitted locally, as a potentially safer alternative.

• Use internal administrative tools-such as student conduct holds or account flags-to encourage compliance.

• Coordinate with legal counsel and your tow vendor to ensure enforcement practices are fully compliant and clearly outlined in contract terms.

Best,

Matt

——————————
Matthew Rushton
Assistant Vice President of Public Safety & Chief of Police
Brandeis University
Waltham MA
United States
——————————

Original Message:
Sent: 04-01-2025 21:27
From: Steven Eramo
Subject: MA Colleges Parking & RMV

We do by way of Kelley & Ryan (https://kelleyryan.com/) who handles all of the mailings, RMV marks, and fees.

 

Our policy and schedule is as follows ? note we do not enact any late fees despite our right to do so, but the $20 mark fee to the RMV is assessed.

If parking citations issued on campus are not paid or appealed after 21 days, a $5 late fee will be added and the citation sent to a third-party processing center and must be paid to Kelly & Ryan Associates, Inc. Deputy Collector. A late notice will also be sent to the vehicle owner at the mailing address listed at the Registry of Motor Vehicles.

If no action is taken after 60 days of the citation, an additional state-issued $20 fee will be added to the fine and the citation will be sent to the Registry of Motor Vehicles. The driver’s license and registration of the registered owner will not be eligible for renewal until the citation and additional fees are paid.

All money collected from the base parking fines on campus is deposited into the student scholarship fund.

——————————
Steven Eramo
Lieutenant
University of Massachusetts Lowell
Lowell MA
United States

Original Message:
Sent: 04-01-2025 14:08
From: Patrick Foley
Subject: MA Colleges Parking & RMV

Good Afternoon,

I am looking for any information from fellow universities and colleges in Massachusetts in regard to parking enforcement that is tied to the RMV. During my time at a state school if parking tickets were not paid or otherwise rectified it impacted their ability to renew their motor vehicle registration. I am assuming that this was possible because it was a state school, but I wanted to double check and explore all my options. Our college currently has nearly $45,000.00 worth of unpaid parking fines and an additional $20,000 in fines that are not college affiliated individuals (guests/visitors) and we are struggling to recoup these fines. Any information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

——————————
Patrick Foley
Chief of Police & Director of Public Safety
Curry College
Milton MA
United States
——————————