U N I V E R S I T Y   O F   S O U T H E R N   M A I N E


POLICY#:   101.22
SUBJECT:   HANDBILLS ON USM CAR WINDSHIELDS
APPLIES TO:  ALL UNIVERSITY PARKING AREAS AND ROADWAYS
ISSUED BY:  OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
EFFECTIVE DATE:  10/13/94
SUBJECT:  Handbills on USM Car Windshields.

         Copies of Administrative Practices Letters can be acquired
         from the Business Services Office which processes contracts
         or from the Human Resources Office.

 

I. Introduction

In the past, several local establishments placed handbill advertisements under vehicle windshield wipers in USM parking lots and roadways. A number of these handbills and advertisements ended up littering, creating unsightly debris and extra work for USM's staff. The City of Portland has an ordinance prohibiting the placement of such handbills or advertising on vehicles, but its ordinance applies only to public streets or ways or City property. At its September 29, 1994 meeting, the University of Southern Maine Parking/Transportation Review Committee unanimously passed the following policy which was accepted by the President.

II. Handbill Policy

"No person shall place or attach any handbill, circular, card, booklet or placard on any unoccupied or occupied automobile or other conveyance parked or located on University property, without the consent of the owner or occupant. No person shall place or attach any other object on any unoccupied automobile or other unoccupied conveyance located or parked on University property, or if occupied without the consent of the occupant, if such object could reasonably be expected to constitute litter when removed. The University of Southern Maine Department of Police and Safety shall be exempt from this policy complying with the distribution of materials related to the public health and safety."

III. Penalty

Violation of the above policy will be considered littering. For students violating the policy, any penalty will be imposed under the usual Student Conduct Code procedures. For a non-student or local business firm that carries out such distribution on campus, the penalty will be for the distributor to retrieve the handbills or advertisements and dispose of the handbills properly. If the group or firm refuses to retrieve the handbills or advertisements, a summons for littering will be issued.