Department of Public Safety

Public Safety has the responsibility for the safety and security of students, staff, faculty and visitors. The campus of Dalton State College is a safe and secure environment due to the efforts of a number of departments. The police department, consisting of sworn police officers and dispatchers, is under the direction of Chief Michael Masters. The police officers, certified by the State of Georgia, are armed and have full arrest powers. All State Certified Officers complete formal training at a police academy for certification by the Georgia Peace Officers Standards and Training Council. All officers receive annually at least twenty (20) hours of in-service training including but not limited to: legal updates; crime prevention; firearm instruction and re-qualification; defensive tactics; emergency response; C.P.R.; AED and first aid.

The Public Safety Department is located in the Health Professions Building, Room 300 and an officer can be reached anytime at 706-272-4461.

CAMPUS PARKING

Parking Rules and Regulations

For Parking Assistance call (706) 272-4461

All motorized vehicles parked at Dalton State College must be registered with the department. Students, Faculty, and Staff are not authorized to park in visitor spaces; these are reserved for off-campus visitors. Students are not permitted to park in faculty and staff parking. Residents of Mashburn Hall will only park in the parking area around the parking garage in spaces marked in blue. Students may not park in residential spaces. Residents may not park in student spaces. 

Bicycles must be parked in bicycle racks located outside of campus buildings and a lock is recommended to deter possible theft. For safety and liability reasons, skateboarding or scooters on sidewalks, walkways and/or in or around campus buildings will not be allowed unless they are being used for transportation.

All vehicles illegally parked are subject to being issued a citation and/or towed. This includes blocking entrances, parking on yellow curbs, parking on the grass, parking next to a fire hydrant, or parking in handicap spaces without the proper state issued handicap permit displayed, students parking in employee spaces, or other.

Handicap Permit: Valid handicap plates and permits issued by the State of Georgia or other state will be honored on campus. Should you need temporary handicap parking on campus you must first contact Dalton State College Disabilities Access and Student Support Services to get the necessary approval for a temporary campus handicap permit. Receiving a Dalton State temporary permit will allow you to park in faculty and staff parking spaces only (not state handicap spaces).

Traffic Fines: Must be paid in the Business Office located in Westcott Hall or online: https://www.daltonstate.edu/about/pay-online.cms

Traffic Appeal Committee: Any person wishing to appeal a traffic ticket must do so online at:

https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?DaltonStateCollege&layout_id=10

The right to appeal will be forfeited after five school days. After filing a written appeal, the person appealing the ticket has the option to appear in person before the Traffic Appeals Committee or the appeal will be read in his/her absence. The person attending the Traffic Appeals Committee will be immediately informed of the Traffic Committee’s decision. In every case the appeal results will be emailed.

Accidents: Any vehicle accidents occurring on the main Dalton State College campus must be reported to the Public Safety office immediately at 706-272-4461. The driver(s) involved in any accidents on campus resulting in the injury to, or death of, or damage to any property of another shall immediately stop their vehicle at the scene of the accident. The persons involved should remain at the scene of the accident until an officer arrives and completes their investigation. Drivers must present the officer(s) with valid proof of insurance and driver’s license.

TRAFFIC CODE

Statement of General Policy

  1. For the purpose of these regulations a motor vehicle includes automobiles, trucks, motor scooters, motorbikes, and other motor powered vehicles.
  2. The term “students” includes all who attend classes at Dalton State College including students from any other school holding classes on the Dalton State College campus.
  3. The term “visitor” includes any person other than faculty, staff, or a student parking or driving an unregistered vehicle on campus.

Motor Vehicle Registration

  1. All faculty, staff, and student motor vehicles must be registered for campus parking. https://daltonstateparking.gabest.usg.edu/
  2. Registered vehicles must be covered by liability insurance and drivers must have a valid driver's license to operate a vehicle on the Dalton State College campus.
  3. Temporary permits may be obtained for a two-week period.
  4. Parking in marked handicapped spaces requires a permit from the Georgia Department of Public Safety or a handicapped tag.

General Rules

  1. The registrant or student is held responsible for the safe, prudent operation, and proper parking of their vehicle regardless of who may be the operator.
  2. Curbs painted yellow are NO PARKING AREAS.
  3. Parking against the flow of traffic is PROHIBITED.
  4. Students leaving vehicles on campus after school hours must notify the Public Safety Office or the vehicle is subject to being towed.
  5. No vehicles will be backed into parking spaces or pulled through spaces.
  6. Student vehicles parked in visitor’s spaces or spaces reserved for faculty and staff may be towed at the owner’s expense.
  7. Speed limits are as posted.
  8. No parking at any time on College Drive.
  9. No student parking in front of Westcott Hall at any time. No faculty/staff parking in visitor spaces.
  10. Residents of Mashburn Hall will only park in the parking area around the parking garage in spaces marked in blue. Students may not park in residential spaces. Residents may not park in student spaces.
  11. No exiting from the parking lots by way of marked entrances.
  12. No entrance to lots by way of marked exits.
  13. Any vehicle parked on walkways or grass areas without permission from the Public Safety Office will be towed at owner’s expense.
  14. All vehicle accidents on campus must be reported to the Public Safety Department at 706-272- 4461. A Public Safety Officer will conduct an investigation into the accident. The same applies to incidents of bodily accident or injury. 
  15. Neither Dalton State College nor any of its employees assumes any responsibility or liability for the loss from theft or damage due to vehicles parked in the parking areas.
  16. Music from within a vehicle must not be audible more than 100 feet from the vehicle or cause disruption to campus.
  17. Vehicles must not be operated at speeds that are unreasonable given conditions that are present such as traffic congestion, pedestrian traffic, weather, etc.
  18. Vehicles must be parked with the flow of traffic in parallel parking spaces.

Penalties and Fines for Violations

All fines must be paid at the Business Office located in Westcott Hall or online: https://www.daltonstate.edu/about/pay-online.cms

The right to appeal will be forfeited after FIVE school days. Appeals may be made online at:  https://dynamicforms.ngwebsolutions.com/Login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fShowForm.aspx%3fRequestedDynamicFormTemplate%3d80921aee-63b3-41c7-ab73-51bc029e184d

Failure to pay fines approved by the Traffic Appeals Committee will result in withholding of Grades and/or of Transcripts to other institutions or agencies; or may hinder Registration.

Penalty Fee
1. Failure to Register Vehicle $20.00
2. Unregistered Vehicle in Residential area $20.00
3. Parking on White Lines/Yellow Lines $20.00
4. Parking in Reserved Spaces; Faculty, Visitors $35.00
5. Backing into Parking Spaces $20.00
6. Pulling through Parking Spaces $20.00
7. Impeding the Free Flow of Traffic $20.00
8. Entering through Exit Only (or Exiting through Entrance) $20.00
9. Stop Sign Violation $20.00
10. Loud Music from Vehicle $20.00
11. Parking in an Unauthorized Area $20.00
12. Parking in Handicapped Spaces $50.00
13. Speeding $20.00
14. Reckless Driving $30.00
15. Parking Against Flow of Traffic $20.00

*Fine amounts will double after the third ticket issued within a semester

First Aid Procedures

The following procedures are recommended in case of any accident or emergency situation relating to health on the campus of Dalton State College. In case of minor cuts, scratches, etc., first aid kits are located in all campus buildings. In case of an accident of a more serious nature, faculty, staff, and students are requested to:

  1. Not move the patient.
  2. Immediately notify the Department of Public Safety at 706-272-4461 or phone 911.

The Public Safety Officer(s) will make a determination of the best course of action regarding the patient’s health and safety. An appropriate accident/incident report must be completed and filed with the Department of Public Safety for record keeping and verification. Students requiring medical attention must defray their own expense. It is recommended that each faculty member at the beginning of each term offer students a chance to inform the faculty member, or Disabilities Access and Student Support Services in confidence, of any medical problem such as seizures, for example, that may affect the student in class.

ROADRUNNER ALERT

Roadrunner Alert is Dalton State College's emergency notification system. It allows College officials to send critical information to the campus community through the use of text messages, voice messages, and emails. Dalton State College urges all students, faculty and staff to update their emergency contact information in the Roadrunner Portal so that Roadrunner Alerts are sent to correct number or addresses.

https://www.daltonstate.edu/about/alert.cms

SEVERE WEATHER INFORMATION

Use your best judgment when driving or when outside during severe weather. All buildings on campus have designated "weather safe" areas on the lowest level of each building which can be utilized during a tornado warning or during high winds. A Roadrunner Alert will be issued when dangerous conditions exist.

Please update your personal information in Banner and sign up for the Roadrunner Alert emergency notification system to receive critical campus information. In the event of a delay or closing, students should contact their professor(s) immediately.

OTHER INFORMATION

Additional information is contained on our website: emergency procedures, anonymous reporting procedures, campus vehicle reservation information, and others.

https://www.daltonstate.edu/about/safety-overview.cms