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Porter County Sheriff Dave Reynolds wants
to make sure that handicapped parking spaces remain open
for those that need them. That's why he has put
together the
Porter County Sheriff's Disabled Parking Police Program. Reynolds has recruited 20 Porter
County residents who have taken training in writing
tickets to those who illegally park in handicapped
parking spaces. Volunteers will roam the county
enforcing the handicapped parking rules and are
commissioned to cite able-bodied drivers who park in
handicapped spaces.
Reynolds put together a volunteer
handicapped parking program force in 1997 when he was
Chief of the
Portage Police Dept. He received recognition
from the Indiana State Senate for the success of the
program initiated just a year ago.
State Sen. Sue Landske, R-Cedar Lake, presented
Reynolds with a proclamation for the "innovative
approach" to solving the problem of people parking in
handicapped areas. Senator Landske lauded the program as
being
"successful in protecting the rights of the handicapped.
"The
idea has been picked up by other municipalities in the
state and as far away as Texas and Kansas thanks to its
promotion on the Internet.
Reynolds has appointed Officer George Gonzalez to
coordinate the new program. He and other Porter County
officers trained the volunteers for the parking patrol.
Reynolds said the program takes a non-confrontational
approach and, added, most people, even when cited, have
been polite. The fine for illegally parking in a
handicapped space is $80. |
