Hays County commissioners formed a partnership that will help address abuse of handicap-accessible parking spaces Oct. 29.

The action was part of an agreement with Access Empowerment, a mobility education organization based in Austin, to dedicate human resources to the development of a parking mobility program in the county.

Hays County Judge Bert Cobb said the program would help enforce mobility laws involving accessible parking spaces that are already on the books but are rarely enforced.

"There's a new sheriff in town," Cobb said. "The law is being enforced. The law has always been there, but it hasn't always been enforced."

Mack Marsh, project director for Parking Mobility and an administrator of Access Empowerment's programs, said the project has three components.

The first component is to equip Hays County residents with technology that will allow them to report people who illegally park in accessible parking spaces. Using smart phones and a special app, Hays County residents will be able to take pictures of violators' cars and report them to the county.

The second component of the program is a driver education course that offenders have the option of taking. Instead of the typical $500 fine that accompanies violations, offenders will be required to pay a $250 fee that covers the administrative costs of administering the course.

The third component involves outreach to the community, Marsh said.

Marsh, who has been in a wheelchair for 12 years, said the parking abuses have persisted despite laws that have been on the books for 20 years.

"The laws have existed for many years and the problem has only gotten worsewe know enforcement is part of it, but it really is about community education," Marsh said.

Cobb said he has seen the problems firsthand and hopes the program puts an end to the abuses entirely.

"The educational portion of this is key," Cobb said. "The only reason we are interested in doing this is to be educational. We eventually want to make the program unnecessary."

Parking Mobility will host an educational meeting Nov. 16 at the Hays County Government Center, 712 Stagecoach Trail, San Marcos. Marsh said attendees will receive all the training and information they need to begin enforcing parking laws.

Those interested in volunteering for the program can contact Marsh at [email protected] or call him at 512-981-9628