Guidelines for Loading/Unloading for Hoofer Trips

Wisconsin Hoofer Outing Club

revised April 1995

The Club Gear is stored in various storage spaces in the basement of the Memorial Union. The only place where the Club can load and unload this gear on official Club trips is at the end of Park Street, known as the Park Street Circle. Unfortunately, it is illegal to park in this area, hence here are some recommendations trip members might find useful.Jurisdiction of enforcing the no parking at the Circle lies with the Madison Police Department, not with the Campus Police. The Campus Police do however have the jurisdiction on the University property, including the Union which extends to the curb of the street.Illegality of parking in the Park Street Circle is not disputed. In the past, individual members of the Madison Police department have understood our problem, and several officers have been generous enough not to issue citations, but there is no guarantee that this lenient enforcement will continue in the future. Any citations issued by the Madison Police will become responsibility of the vehicle owner, not of the Club.

Guidelines for minimizing propensity of parking citations:

• Politeness when dealing with police officers, both Campus and Madison, is necessary. If you are viewed as someone just loading or unloading gear, just trying to do this in a most reasonable manor possible, most police officers will let it go. On the other hand, if you are viewed as college kid who thinks that it is OK to disregard the law to do your own thing, the officer will be more tempted to issue you a citation.
• As little space as needed should be taken up by the loading/unloading.
• Flashers need to be turned on whenever parked at the Circle.
• Loitering by the trip participants is discouraged.
• Delivery trucks may need to drive in or drive out of the Circle at the same time as the trip participants are loading or unloading. The drivers should coordinate their efforts with the delivery truck drivers job.
• Unattended vehicles tend to be ticketed or towed. Several people need remain with the vehicles at all times they are parked in the Circle.
• One hour for loading or unloading is deemed to be the upper time limit of parking in the Circle.