This story is sad in a number of ways – First of all, the member of the parking patrol was removed due to “inappropriate touching.” Well, OK – so be it. But in my view the real issue is that the citizen’s patrol which wrote citations for people illegally parking in handicapped spaces is no more.
After our “toucher” was fired, that was it. Seems all the other volunteers in the program had died.
It’s too bad because my guess is that Fred the toucher had no supervision, there was no ongoing process for the continuation of the program, and when the volunteers who kept scofflaws out of the handicapped spaces passed away, the program was gone.
I think these volunteer programs are terrific. In many cases the people who enforce the handicapped laws are themselves disabled. That could have been the problem with Fred. They work because the volunteers have a vested interest in the program and in ensuring disabled spaces are kept for the disabled.
Hopefully Lufkin, TX, will set up a new program and disabled spaces will once again have a group to protect and serve.
JVH
