Student Handbook and Catalog 2021-22 V2

College Catalog and Student Handbook | 63
Information provided by the state of Texas concerning
registered sex offenders may be obtained through
the Department of Public Safety's website. Additional
information about college safety or information relating
to state or federally mandated public information
requirements, can be found on TSTC's safety and security
website.
Racial Profiling Policy
It is the policy of the TSTC Police Department to police
in a proactive manner and, to aggressively investigate
suspected violations of law. Officers shall actively enforce
state and federal laws in a responsible and professional
manner, without regard to race, ethnicity or national origin.
The right of all persons to be treated equally and to be
free from unreasonable searches and seizures must be
respected. Officers are strictly prohibited from engaging
in racial profiling as defined in this policy. Racial profiling
is an unacceptable patrol tactic and will not be condoned.
This policy shall be applicable to all persons, whether
drivers, passengers or pedestrians.
The prohibition against racial profiling does not preclude
the use of race, ethnicity or national origin as factors in a
detention decision. Race, ethnicity or national origin may
be legitimate factors in a detention decision when used
as part of an actual description of a specific suspect for
whom an officer is searching. Detaining an individual and
conducting an inquiry into that person’s activities simply
because of that individual’s race, ethnicity or national
origin is racial profiling.
Examples of racial profiling include but are not limited to
the following:
• Citing a driver who is speeding in a stream of traffic
where most other drivers are speeding because of the
cited driver’s race, ethnicity or national origin.
• Detaining the driver of a vehicle based on the
determination that a person of that race, ethnicity or
national origin is unlikely to own or possess that specific
make or model of vehicle.
• Detaining an individual based upon the determination
that a person of that race, ethnicity or national origin
does not belong in a specific part of town or place.
• The TSTC Police Department holds two basic principles
based on the adoption of this definition of racial
profiling:
• Police may not use racial or ethnic stereotypes as factors
in selecting whom to stop and search, while police may
use race in conjunction with other known factors of the
suspect.
• Law enforcement officers may not use racial or ethnic
stereotypes as factors in selecting whom to stop and
search.
Racial profiling is not relevant as it pertains to witnesses,
etc. Students who have questions or complaints about
TSTC Police Department’s racial profiling policies or
procedures may call the local campus office:
Abilene, Breckenridge,
Brownwood, and Sweetwater 325-235-7400
Fort Bend County 956-364-4220
Harlingen 956-364-4220
Waco 254-867-3690
Making a False Alarm or Report
A person commits an offense under Section 42.06, Texas
Penal Code, if he or she knowingly initiates, communicates
or circulates a report of a present, past, or future bombing,
fire, offense, or other emergency that he or she knows
is false or baseless and that would ordinarily: (1) cause
action by an official or volunteer agency organized to deal
with emergencies; (2) place a person in fear of imminent
serious bodily injury; or (3) prevent or interrupt the
occupation of a building, room, place of assembly, place
to which the public has access, or aircraft, automobile, or
other mode of conveyance. The offense under Section
42.06, Texas Penal Code, of making such a false alarm
or report involving a public or private institution of
higher education is a state jail felony. An individual
adjudged guilty of a state jail felony shall be punished
by confinement in a state jail for any term of not more
than two years or less than 180 days and, in addition to
confinement, an individual adjudged guilty of a state jail
felony may be punished by a fine not to exceed $10,000."
Parking and Traffic Regulations
Parking permits will not be required this academic school
year.
Vehicle and Parking on Campus
Students are to follow all federal, state and campus
statutes pertaining to the operation or parking of any and
all vehicles. Any damage caused by any unauthorized
activities will be charged to the offender’s account. No
repair work of any kind is to be done in any parking or
common area. No vehicle may be left on jacks, logs,
blocks, etc. Inoperable vehicles are not allowed on
campus.
All vehicles are required to be in legal, operable
condition to be parked on campus. Vehicles must have
proper license, inspection, registration and parking
permits (if applicable). Parking in the grass, on the
sidewalk, in front of trash dumpsters or any area marked
restricted is prohibited. Those in violation will be towed
at the owner’s expense.
Texas State Technical College
tstc.edu