CITY TO STRICTLY ENFORCE HANDICAP PARKING VIOLATIONS
Disabled parking abuse frustrates citizens and officers alike. While it seems like such a petty violation, the truth is handicapped parking is designed to ensure accessible spaces are available for those individuals whose needs require them.
“Brenham police recognize the importance of handicapped parking spaces. We believe they are a necessity for our disabled citizens. When someone parks there without the proper placards it takes that spot from someone who truly needs it,” said Chief Craig Goodman.
Goodman also recognizes it’s difficult for an officer to respond to a call pertaining to a parking violation. With that in mind, the department is turning to its volunteer base for assistance.
“We have such an amazing volunteer group through the Citizens’ Police Academy Alumni Association and our Citizens on Patrol. We are calling on our COP members to assist us in enforcing the handicap parking violations beginning April 1,” he said.
The volunteers will undergo training on the laws associated with handicap parking prior to the program beginning, Goodman said.
“Once the traffic enforcement program begins, COP members will be on the lookout for violators. The registered owner of the vehicle parked illegally will be notified by mail and will receive a warning citation and a letter explaining the laws. Any further infractions will result in a citation being issued by an officer,” Goodman said.
The fee for a first time offense for a handicap parking violation is $500 plus $17 in court costs. And according to Brenham Municipal Court Administrator Rhonda Kuehn, it’s a fine that can’t be waived by the Court.
“This is one of those instances where the judge can’t lower the ticket regardless of the reason for the violation. If the person has a handicap placard, and just forgot to hang it, it’s possible the citation can be waived, but no guarantees. So that one simple ‘slip’ into the wrong space can end up costing you $517,” Kuehn said.
(Story courtesy, Angela Hahn, Brenham Police)