Policies

Barnacle and tow policy

  1. The barnacle/tow list is used to barnacle or tow vehicles found in a parking violation on campus.   
  2. After the accumulation of $100 of violations on one vehicle, a barnacle/tow warning notification email will be sent to the legally registered vehicle owner or permit-holder if known.
  3. After the accumulation of $200 of violations on one vehicle, a barnacle/tow eligible notification email will be sent to the legally registered vehicle owner or permit-holder if known.
  4. Individual vehicles will remain on the barnacle/tow list until the applicable citation balance is paid in full or reduced below the $200 threshold.  

Habitual violation policy

  1. If you exceed the threshold of $450.00 in parking citations in a permit year (July 1 to June 30) you will be barnacle/tow eligible under the habitual violation policy. You will not be removed from the barnacle/tow list until July 1 of the next permit year.
  2. Once your vehicle exceeds the threshold of $1,000.00 in parking citations you will be permanently placed on the barnacle/tow eligible list under the habitual violation policy.
  3. Employee vehicles with 10 or more employee in ramp (A4) parking citations for using restricted patient parking facilities including Parking Ramp 1, 2, or 4 will be permanently placed on the barnacle eligible list under the habitual violation policy.

Removal from barnacle/tow list

Vehicles will be removed from the barnacle/tow list when parking citation balance is paid off in full or reduced below the $200 threshold and the owner complies with policy. 

If the owner fails to comply with parking policy by incurring repeat violations, their vehicle will remain on the barnacle/tow list at the discretion of the Parking and Transportation Department. 

Please note that habitual violations will remain on the list once accrued $450 in parking violations in a permit year and not removed paid or unpaid until July 1 of the next permit year.

Once you exceed $1000 in parking violations you are permanently on the tow/barnacle list.

Liability

The University of Iowa assumes no responsibility for damage to a barnacled or towed vehicle. 

Notifications

After the accumulation of $100 of violations on one vehicle, a warning notification email will be sent to the registered vehicle owner or permit holder. 

After the accumulation of $200 of violations on one vehicle, a barnacle/tow eligible email will be sent to the registered vehicle owner or permit holder if we have it on file. Vehicle may be towed from any UI parking location once a tow letter has been issued. 

Fees

Any vehicle that's barnacled/towed due to being on the barnacle/tow list will be issued a  barnacle/tow fee, in addition to any parking violations that may be issued. 

Show-Up Fee 

If the operator of the vehicle shows up during the process of being barnacled the barnacle fee is still valid.

If the operator of the vehicle shows up after a tow truck has been summoned but before the tow is completed, any applicable fees must be paid to the towing company.

Reclaiming your vehicle

Barnacled vehicle

  1. Full payment of violations and barnacle fee is required for release of the vehicle.

  2. Payment will be made directly on the payandrelease.com website after scanning the QR code on the device. 

  3. Once the fine and refundable deposit for the equipment is paid, the motorist will receive a unique release code which allows them to remove the device and then return to the nearest receptable location. 

    1. Receptacle for returning barnacle equipment is located on the east side of Hawkeye Parking Ramp, in the motorcycle lot between Parking Ramp 3 and Hawkeye Parking Ramp: 
      800 Evashevski Drive 
      Iowa City, IA 52242

    2. Receptacle for returning barnacle equipment is located east of the crosswalk as you enter Lot 11, Recreation Center Lot on Madison Street: 
      500 South Madison Street
      Iowa City, IA 52242

Towed and impounded vehicle

While vehicles are not towed by the University of Iowa Police Department, you must first pick up a release from Campus Safety headquarters before getting your vehicle from the impound lot. A valid photo ID or driver’s license is required.

Campus Safety headquarters

808 University Capitol Centre 
200 S. Capitol Street 
Iowa City, IA 52242 

Towed vehicles are stored an impound lot managed by the university's towing vendor.  The university’s current towing vendor is Big Ten University Towing.

Big Ten University Towing 

3309 Highway 1 SW 
Iowa City, IA 52240 

(319) 354-5936 
Website: http://www.big10towing.com
Office Hours:  7:00 am – 7:00 pm 

All vendor towing fees must be paid to the towing company before the vehicle is released from impound.    

Barnacle and towing contact information

  • Parking Office: 319-335-1475 

  • Campus Safety: 319-335-5022 

  • Safety and Security (for health care campus): 319-356-2658

  • Big Ten University Towing: 319-354-5936