City of Tyler – Volunteer Tyler
Accessible Parking Enforcement Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Q) Who gives authority for citizens to write parking tickets?
A) Under the Texas Transportation Code Section 681.0101:
a. City governments have the authority to appoint citizens to write citations for vehicles parked illegally
in spaces reserved for disabled individuals.
b. These citizens must:
Be a US citizen
Have no felony convictions
Take an oath of office administered by a judge
Successfully complete a four-hour training program developed by the City of Tyler
c. Citizens appointed under this section are not peace officers and have no authority other than writing
tickets to violators of the disabled parking laws.
Q) What can these volunteers write tickets for?
A) Volunteers can write parking tickets to persons parked in legally marked handicapped spaces if they:
Don’t have a valid placard displayed in their windshield
Don’t have disabled plates on their car
They have an out of state placard and Texas license plates
Under Texas Transportation Code Section 681.011.c, a person commits an offense if the person stands or
parks a vehicle so that the vehicle blocks an architectural improvement designed to aid persons with
disabilities, including an access or curb ramp. See photo example below:
Example of an
illegally parked car
in the access area
and blocking the
curb ramp.
Q) What are the requirements of a legally marked handicapped space?
A) ADA Accessible Parking Requirements:
Posted signs shall be located so they cannot be obscured by a vehicle parked in the space.
Minimum of five (5) feet from the ground to the bottom of the sign.
Markings painted on the pavement or ground are not sufficient to meet this requirement.
See photo examples below:
Sign – well over 5’
Pavement
markings are not
required by Texas
state law or ADA.
Q) Can a volunteer write a ticket if a business’ handicapped sign is missing?
A) No, a space is not legally recognized as a handicapped space if the handicapped sign is missing
Q) What if the handicapped sign is missing but the pavement is marked with the handicapped logo, can the
volunteer write a ticket for this space?
A) No, the pavement marking is not required by Texas state law or ADA and a space is not legally recognized as a
handicapped space if the handicapped sign is missing.
Q) What if a business is missing their handicapped sign?
A) Not posting the required handicapped signs creates two problems:
The parking laws prohibiting non-disabled persons from using parking spaces reserved for disabled
persons cannot be enforced.
Businesses not having the required signs are in violation of the Texas Accessibility Standards.
Businesses that fail to comply may be charged by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
with a Class B violation. Fines for this violation range from $1,000 to $3,000 for the first offense.
Q) What does ADA stand for?
A) Americans with Disabilities Act