Write’em Up and Move’em Out

By Kerry Laird

Ever wish you could write a ticket for a car parked illegally in a disabled parking space, slapping the inconsiderate driver with a hefty fine? Upon completion of a short four-hour training session offered by the city, volunteers in Houston, Texas are able to take the law into their own hands and issue parking tickets that carry a fine of $205.

Program officials say that based on the turnout at program training sessions and on calls from people requesting information for the program, the volunteer initiative to stop illegal parking in handicapped parking spaces is “becoming extremely popular.”

Enforcement volunteers have proved to be a formidable, effective force. The city’s volunteer program is responsible for 23 percent of more than 9800 citations issued to disabled parking violators in 2005. That’s 2255 citations written in one year by volunteers.

Established in August 1993, the City of Houston Parking Management Division consolidates functions that include parking enforcement, parking collections, parking meter repairs and maintenance, and booting and towing. Therefore the volunteer program that enforces the handicapped parking laws in the city is well-situated within a firmly-established, legally-mandated department.

In May 1995, Senate House Bill 2083 gave Parking Management the authority to appoint volunteers, thus paving the way for the handicapped parking volunteer program. It is SHB 2083 that gives volunteers the authority to issue citations to illegally-parked vehicles.

In July 1995, the handicapped parking program set out to curb offenders who believe that “I’ll just be a second” is a valid excuse for parking where they do not belong. The program began with just 10 volunteers, but within a short period of time, the number of volunteers on the street jumped to over 130, with 250 security personnel. Currently, the program boasts over 600 volunteers.

“We want to send the message that we are serious about the disabled parking in Texas,” said Officer Melvin Bates, an enforcement supervisor for the parking division. “These aren’t warnings; we go right for the jugular.”

The $205 fine, if not paid or addressed by the violator within 45 days, doubles to $410. But since City of Houston parking citations were decriminalized in March 1995, no arrests will be made for violators who do not pay the fines issued to them.

Program coordinator Roland De La Cerda states that violators who do not pay fines become “boot-eligible” and are placed on a list that will allow the City to “lock down” the vehicle, immobilizing it.

“We will get them to pay their tickets eventually,” says De La Cerda. “We have booted all kinds of cars, even Jaguars. And we have found individuals with outstanding citations amounting to $10,000 in parking tickets.”

De La Cerda says that revenue raised by parking violations goes into the General Revenue of the City.

Due to the continued success of the program, the City has scheduled additional training sessions to put even more volunteers on the streets. In fact, a majority of the volunteers are people with disabilities who actually use the reserved parking spaces.

“In my opinion, we don’t have enough volunteers,” states Manuel Barrera, Jr., a hearing officer for the City of Houston Parking Management Division. “I see violators all the time, and you can’t depend on the security guards to issue citations. Store managers say they won’t allow security guards to issue citations because they don’t want to lose customers. It’s a sad situation.”

Liliana Rambo, assistant director for the City of Houston Department of Parking Management, says that the volunteers make the city more accessible because they know the ins and outs of their own neighborhoods and are familiar with the locations where violations occur.

“The volunteers provide a wakeup call for those who think its okay to park there for ‘just a minute’,” said Rambo.

Al Risien, a former math and physics high school teacher, saw a parking enforcement volunteer working in his local grocery store parking lot. As a person with a disability, Risien was aware of the importance of the initiative. He decided he wanted to be a part of a program that would not only benefit him but others in his community as well.

Having attending a training session in January 2005, Risien calls the program a win-win situation.

“I’m not a caped crusader, but I do enforce disabled parking regulations in my neighborhood and where I shop,” Risien said. “I truly enjoy what I do and I know I’m making a difference for those in need.”

Houston-area residents interested in joining the program may request an electronic application by emailing volunteer@cityofhouston.net or by calling 713-853-8271 to receive one by fax or mail.