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.
