Obeying the "Stop" Signs!

We are concerned about employees who are not stopping at the posted “Stop” signs in the Forrestal Garage. We have the signs posted so that no one is hit, whether it be a pedestrian or vehicle. We have also noticed that some of the permit holders are not observing the posted speed limit in the garage. The posted speed limit is 5 mph. Their are permit holders that are driving through the garage doing up to 35 mph. The Federal Protective Service officers come in the garage and issue tickets to permit holders not adhering to the rules. They issue out tickets that are $50 and up, depending on the circumstance. Therefore, we ask that everyone observe the stop signs and speed limit in the garage so that we will not have any accidents.

The speed limit in the garage is 5 mph. Some of our customers are speeding through the garage as if the speed limit is 35 mph. The speed limit is there for your own protection whether walking to your car or driving. If a ticket is received from the Federal Protective Service, a monetary fine will be assessed and can only be appealed in Federal Traffic Court. Please drive carefully and responsibly.

It has been brought to the attention of the Parking Management Office that permit holders are not heeding the posted directional signs in the garage. The garage only has one lane and vehicles are to be driven in one direction. It has been reported that people are exiting the garage from their lane and going immediately up the ramp. But they are driving in the opposite direction of the posted directional signs to avoid having to drive around the garage when necessary. According to DOE Order HQ O 344.1A, Parking/Traffic Operating Procedures, DOE employees issued parking permits must park their vehicles in accordance with the procedures established in this Order and those instructions that may be given by the parking attendant. Employees will comply with all posted directional signs and observe safety and traffic regulations while operating a vehicle at the parking facility. Moreover, it is expected that drivers will be courteous to other drivers, pedestrians, and attendants. The Parking Committee may suspend for 1 month the permit of individuals who fail to follow directions provided by the parking attendants.

As stated in the DOE Order HQ O 344.1A, all vehicles must be moved within 15 minutes of the posted departure time (i.e., 5:00 pm: the vehicle must be moved no later than 5:15 pm.) The 15 minutes are a grace period and every effort should be made to vacate the lane as close to the designated time as possible. Failure to move the vehicle within 15 minutes of the posted departure time or when asked to do so by another employee will cause for issuance of a violation notice and possible towing, and it may result in the termination of parking privileges. Permit holders who are blocked may call the permit holder blocking them and ask that they move their vehicle in order that they may leave the garage before the 15 minute grace period. If the vehicle has not been moved, notify an attendant, so that the vehicle may be ticketed. If an attendant is not available, take down the appropriate information and turn it into the Parking Management Office the next day - a ticket will be issued.

Pursuant to DOE Order HQ O 344.1A, Employees who intend to leave during the workday should park in lanes designated for such access and egress if available. If such parking is not available, a parking attendant should be asked to provide assistance.

If you receive a ticket and want to appeal it, these are the steps to take. You must write an appeal letter. You must provide detailed explanation of the circumstances surrounding the violation or suspension. The appeal letter should also include the ticket number and the permit number that the violation was written on. Send your appeal letter to the Parking Management Office, located at 1G-065 or by email. The appeal letter will be reviewed by the Parking Committee. The Committee will decide on sustaining or waiving the violation. The Parking Committee meets once a month, near the end of the month. Appeals received after the Parking Committee meeting will be reviewed at the subsequent meeting. Notification of the judgment will be sent through inter-office mail. This appeal process is for the DOE Forrestal garage issued ticket only. Federal Protective Services issued tickets are to be appealed in Federal Court.

Temporary permits are sold in the Parking Management Office, located at Forrestal Room GG-031, for $3.00 each. You are allowed only two per month.

Permit holders who may have lost or misplaced their permit and seek a one day temporary permit will have to pay the $3.00 fee, with a limit of two per month.  Holders of temporary permits are required to comply with the procedures and policies set forth in DOE Parking Order HQ O 344.1A.

The Forrestal Parking Garage is available for parking for ALL DOE employees with a valid DOE badge after 5:00 pm on weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays. Prior to 5:00 pm on weekdays, only permit holders are allowed in the garage.

The employee to whom the parking permit is issued (i.e., the principal member in a car pool or van pool) must ensure that all information on the parking permit application is accurate and current. Employees must submit a new application to the Parking Management Office within 15 calendar days to register any change in unusual hours or car pool membership. Permits may be canceled if employees fail to resubmit their application

Parking permits must be displayed on the driver's side of the dashboard. The parking permit must be fully and clearly visible and include the names and current office telephone numbers (not voice mail number) of all permit holders in the garage. Vehicles that do not display a monthly parking permit are subject to an irrevocable parking ticket issued by the Federal Protective Service and/or a notice of violation issued by the Parking Management Office.

DOE employees issued parking permits must park their vehicles in accordance with the procedures established in the Order HQ O 344.1A, those instructions that may be given by the parking attendant. Employees will comply with all posted directional signs and observe safety and traffic regulations while operating a vehicle in the parking facility. It is expected that all drivers will be courteous to other drivers, pedestrians, and attendants. The Parking Committee may suspend for 1 month the permits of individuals who fail to follow directions provided by the parking attendants.

Any falsification or misrepresentation of the information furnished on a parking permit application will result in 1 year revocation of parking privileges for the first violation and permanent termination upon a second violation. In addition, employees may be subject to disciplinary action for such falsification or evasion. Suspended employees cannot join other car pools/ van pools while they are suspended.

Caution should be used when approaching vehicle entrances and exits to the Forrestal Building. Be sure you present your badge and clearly display your parking permit on the driver's side dashboard. Establish eye to eye contact with the security officer on duty. Gain the security officer's acknowledgment to halt or proceed and follow admittance and exit with caution.

If a driver accidentally strikes another vehicle in the parking facility, the driver must stop and check for any damages to either vehicle. If the other vehicle is damaged, the driver must notify the owner/driver immediately. The driver must also provide pertinent information about the accident to the security office and the parking attendant on duty. The parking attendant will notify the Federal Protective Service and Headquarters Security Office. In the event the parking office is closed at the time of the accident, or the discovery of the accident, these notifications should be accomplished at the first opportunity when the parking office is open for business.

Many permit holders are required to travel around the country on official business. As a courtesy to our customers, the Forrestal garage is available for permit holders to park their car for the duration of their trip. The following are guidelines that you should take if you wish to leave your car in the Forrestal garage.

• The car must be parked against the wall.
• Have your valid monthly permit displayed in the parked car for the duration of your trip.
• Notify the parking attendants of your desire to leave the vehicle in the garage.
• Notify the attendants of the lane the car is parked in to avoid any confusion.
• Make sure your vehicle is locked. Do not leave your keys with anyone. The parking attendants are not responsible for moving your car.

The following represents the general rules and procedures which govern application for membership in the Parking Management and SEET programs:

• The Parking Management and SEET databases are linked. Thus, membership in a DOE car pool, whether permit owner or rider, will result in a SEET database "block" on a SEET application. Likewise, membership in SEET will result in a Parking Management database "block" on a DOE parking permit application.
• Deletion from either the Parking Management database or the SEET database must be requested in writing by the member/applicant. Requests for deletion from either program must be finalized prior to the submission of a Parking Management or SEET application.
• Requests for deletion from the Parking Management database should be made via email to Gwen Moten or through interoffice mail to:
  Parking Management Office,
  MA-42, Forrestal Room GG-031
  Every effort will be made to process such requests within a day of receipt.
• Requests for deletion from the SEET database or questions regarding the SEET program, should be submitted to Jim Rowe, MA-353, HQ Employee/Labor Management Relations.