Laws have changed around parking for disabled Texans over the years. Here's how it looks today.

[TexasTowelie]

This discussion thread is pinned.

Last edited Sat Jan 13, 2024, 12:35 AM - Edit history (1)

Note: Obviously, this is a personal issue for me since I had my right leg amputated in August 2020. Even though I don't drive, sometimes I am a passenger in my brother's vehicle or I might choose to take my placard with me if I take an Uber.

In 2019, there were changes in the law that required signs to be put up on disabled parking spaces; however, when they did so it invalidated all of the disabled parking spaces that only had paint markings as out of compliance. The new law reactivates those spaces through the efforts of a Republican legislator whose spouse was disabled.

In addition to reactivating those disabled parking spaces, there are two major takeaways that the general public should be aware of:

• The new law provides for fines up to $1,250 and 50 hours community service for parking in a disabled parking spot.

• There is also a new app so that someone can take a picture of a vehicle in a disabled spot and it will be forwarded to the city which tickets the vehicle.

Therefore, if you know someone here in Texas that uses disabled parking spots to run in and out of a building, please tell them they are now vulnerable to enforcement of these laws and any citizen can report them.

There are more details regarding disabled parking access that everyone should review in light of the new laws. I am linking to a Texas Tribune article from September 2023 that provides more details such as veterans license plates and plenty of other good information:

https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/20/texas-accessible-disabled-parking/

While I can see a minimal fine and being required to take a class as to why disabled parking access is necessary for first-time offenders, the fines and community service requirements should escalate for repeat offenders (including time spent assisting the disabled and possibly having to drive the disabled around to handle their business). It might provide a valuable lesson to those who are not mobility-impaired.

[brer cat]

1. I'm glad to see this, TT. Too many people either ignore the signs or are too

entitled to park in a less convenient location. I have a parking permit due to arthritis in my spine so I'm very aware of the misuse by some people. Maybe a fine and community service will teach them a lesson.

[TexasTowelie]

4. My downstairs neighbors were using the disabled spot next to the ramp that goes to my building.

They finally started putting up a placard when they got wind that I was talking to the apartment manager about the space. I suspect that they borrowed the father's placard because they were too busy to walk another 10 yards.

These are the same stupid neighbors that started blocking the sidewalk downstairs with lawn chairs and plants such that I had to keep moving them to leave the building. One night (it was my brother's birthday, June 30) the guy who was shacking up came out and yelled at me for clearing a pathway and truthfully, I felt threatened. I had to go to the apartment manager to talk about the situation since all areas outside are public areas rather than the apartment's personal cantina. They also pulled the stunt of lighting an open barbecue pit on the patio beneath our balcony so that smoke went into our apartment and that is subject to a $10,000 fine.

It turns out that the man who was living there was not on the lease. A woman moved in with her father for a few months so that they were able to meet the minimal income qualifications; however a few months later after her shack-up got out of prison ( 10 years sentence) she snuck dad out to move in the shack-up. He then brought in a young pit bull which was crapping on the patio and barking loudly. We reported the situation and they had two leasing violations--one for the pet and one for the guy who shouldn't have there since he wasn't able to pass the security check.

The guy who wasn't supposed to be there continued to show up on property (trespassing) and was even letting the 50 pound pit bull roam around the walking track without a leash. Considering that 2 of 4 apartments on this side of the building have toddlers, I could foresee a disaster happening and I let the manager and neighbors know that if their kids were bit I would serve as a witness that I reported the situation to management and they were negligent. The apartment manager said they would try to shift the blame to the apartment residents, but after 13 years as the tort statistician at the Department of Insurance, I know that anyone (including a sandwich) can be sued. The pit bull was gone the next week.

The neighbors were also behind on their rent and finally moved out on September 10 after eviction papers were filed, but before they went to court. Due to the eviction and both of them being unemployed, they won't be renting an apartment anytime soon. They tacked on at least a few hundred dollars more in fees because they didn't move out earlier.

Meanwhile, the apartment manager got jumped out severely about a month ago due to other problems. The employee paychecks that arrive via FedEx one Friday were sent back to California because there was nobody in the office to sign for them. The rental agent office is also virtually abandoned on Saturdays when most people have time to look for new apartments. Outdoor electrical lights were out presenting safety hazards (including rape). Finally, one of the maintenance men was logging a lot of overtime, but not actually doing the work. Throw in the extremely long lunch breaks when nobody was in the leasing office from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and it was apparent that the apartment owner was pissed.

It seems like a lot of people think that get away with a lot of things, but eventually

[brer cat]

14. You need a new manager, preferably full time.

My sister and I sold our house and moved to an apartment in a nearby city to be closer to our children. It is so nice to shed the responsibilities of home ownership, and so far we have been pleased with the management here.

[TexasTowelie]

15. The apartment manager is a full-time employee.

She got the job because her mother used to hold the position. Her mother was the prior resident in the apartment below mine for about one year before the undesirable neighbors occupied the apartment. The neighbors attempted to retaliate against us when we reported the dog feces on the patio, but their complaints went nowhere because the apartment manager's mother never reported us for anything and because the neighbors were already proven liars.

The neighbors probably could have gotten away with the two lease violations if the guy hadn't yelled at me. I brought it up to one of the maintenance men (my weed dealer) on the following day (Saturday) and he let me know that the couple was already running behind on rent. I also sent an email on Sunday to the apartment manager that I wanted to speak to her about a problem without being specific. The next morning there were other maintenance men present noting the presence of the dog and I informed them that they should also check to see whether the man was named on the lease which he wasn't. The couple got what they deserved when evicted considering that they had two lease violations and several neighbors felt threatened by the ex-con. The other members of the maintenance team were also glad to see them leave since neither of them worked.

I will say that the maintenance on the apartment is prompt so I don't want to cause too many problems. The apartment management also sent out a revised memo regarding late payments, individual requests to delay payment (it will be considered if it is infrequent and not abused), and that on the 18th of the month eviction notices will be filed. It appears that the manager may have been too lax prior to that memo being sent to the tenants so I'm glad that management is being more vigilant about the process.

Personally, I was never in a position where I could buy a house because the prices were too high. However, I did take advantage of the situation by getting into the employee stockownership program after reading the annual company prospectus. The financial holding group was one of the counterparties to the derivative trades of AIG in 2009 so every decline in AIG stock increased the stock price of the ESOP. I made about a 30% return for each of the four years I was in the ESOP and exited when the stock was near its high point. I stuck around for the 6 years after my employer went into voluntary liquidation to file workers compensation financial data to the appropriate agencies.

I also avoided some problems by not being a homeowner. I always rejoiced every year when I didn't get a property tax bill or did not perform any outside maintenance. It's been over 10 years since I mowed a yard (my father's) or trimmed any shrubbery and I don't miss it. While I might have built some equity, I also knew that I was on a limited timeframe of employment at the insurance company where I worked. Looking back, I would have been forced to sell quickly after becoming unemployed or face a foreclosure so I avoided one misfortune.

[Lithos]

2. Pinning

Call this an indulgence - I agree with this is something which needs broader and consistent focus in our great State. I am never going to call those on DU as offenders, but hoping you all serve as ambassadors.

[Permanut]

3. $500 max in Oregon..

A class C violation. Wish it was higher.

[Lithos]

5. In Texas it is super-abused

Caveat: My wife has huge knee, back and hip issues and is very mobility limited. We have placards for all of our vehicles.

This has made me super aware of the issue. Anecdotally, I would say there is probably at least 20% abuse of the placard system before you get into discussions about people who park inappropriately. Grandma may be disabled, but I see people who abuse the system by using her placard to gain preferential parking when she's not present. The real pain is seeing. a healthy 35 year old climb out of a lifted 4x4 Pickup that requires special foot holds just to access.

[Permanut]

6. Enforcement is lax here .

Seems like we could pay for enforcement just from the fines.

[TexasTowelie]

8. I'm glad that they put an app out there to report violations.

Considering that they allow citizen bounty hunters to collect $10,000 for suing anyone helping a woman to escape the state for an abortion, I will happily provide this service for free. Disabled parking access is a far more pervasive problem.

Remember to look for placards on the vehicle or a wheelchair symbol on the license plates. When taking photos try to include the license plate and any sign or paint markings designating that the vehicle is parked in a disabled spot. If the person has a legitimate reason to park there it can be explained in court.

[Permanut]

9. Thanks for the tip about the app!

Parking Mobility

[Lithos]

12. Thank you

I will be downloading this application. It is a positive step.

I also know my secondary complaint about misuse is very difficult to present in court. i do welcome people's opinions and results over this matter. TBH - we frequently either have me drop my wife off and I park in the hinterland, or she takes the pain and deals with the situation. Neither are preferred.

[TexasTowelie]

13. You're welcome.

However, please use discretion using the app since I don't want you (or anyone else) to be harmed by someone walking out of a building ready to engage in a fight. It probably is best to have an excuse handy when taking the photo like capturing the sales prices off a store windowfront or it's a scenic sunset.

If enough people use the app to report suspected violations it may make an impact to alleviate the problem. Most people believe they can only receive a citation from a law enforcement officer so there will be a rude awakening when they learn that anyone can report a suspected violation.

[TexasTowelie]

7. I did not know about your wife's immobility.

I saw this story back in September and should have posted it back then. It was published shortly after some undesirable neighbors were evicted from my apartment complex. The good news is that I presented the article to my apartment manager and they tore up the concrete to post a disabled parking sign next to the spot near my building.

Obviously the new laws affect everyone so the information should be widely shared. While I downloaded the app to report violations, I don't want to be punitive except for the worst repeat offenders, so perhaps the educational class is warranted for the first offense. Since the people committing this offense are too busy to have to walk a few additional yards taking a significant amount of their precious time attending a class might have more effect. Is saving a few minutes by parking in disabled parking worth attending a class? Is it worth repeating that offense if they are aware of the fines or that doing community service is not effective time management?

Thank you for pinning the thread and please remember to download the app. The legal authorities can consider the proper punishment for the offenders whether it is educational classes, community service, or fines.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

10. I am very grateful that I have no mobility issues of any kind.

I look at the handicapped spaces and am glad I don't need them.

[TexasTowelie]

11. That is how I felt when I wasn't disabled.

I was never tempted to park in a disabled spot because I knew someone might need it.