The purpose of this program is to develop and implement a program to assist the City Police Department personnel by establishing a group of volunteers who will be responsible for issuing citations within the Freeport City limits to vehicles parked illegally in parking spaces, on public and private property, that are reserved for persons with disabilities.
(a) Qualifications: A disabled person parking enforcement volunteer must meet the following qualifications:
(1) Be a U.S. Citizen.
(2) Have a high school diploma or GED and be at least twenty-one years of age.
(3) Pass a background investigation conducted by the Police Department.
(4) Pass a training course conducted by the Police Department.
(5) Sign a volunteer statement of confidentiality and waiver form, and that they understand they are not an employee of the City.
(6) Be able to acquire the knowledge to understand and apply law pertaining to persons with a disability including the capability of identifying an appropriately designated parking space for a person with a disability and the vehicles eligible to park in the designated parking space for a person with a disability.
(7) Be able to write correct and legible citations and be able to place the citations on the windshield of a vehicle in a place that will not fall off.
(8) Have good communication skills to communicate effectively and professionally with individuals and at court hearings and maintain a cool and calm demeanor under stressful and heated emotional conditions.
(9) Have a valid driver's license and their own vehicle, properly licensed and insured, or be able to obtain an alternate form of transportation and be responsible for all cost incurred for transportation.
(10) Be able to attend court hearings regarding citations they have issued.
(b) Applications:
(1) Any person desiring to be appointed as a disabled person parking enforcement volunteer shall submit an application of a form established by the Chief of Police or his or her designee and available at the Police Department. The applicant shall meet the qualifications as listed above.
(2) The applicant shall state his or her name, current address and telephone number on the application. The Chief of Police or his or her designee is authorized to require any additional information from the applicant as he or she deems necessary to complete the application and determine the qualifications of the applicant.
(3) The applicant shall sign all necessary documents to authorize the Police Department to conduct a criminal history record check of the applicant.
(4) Applications shall be submitted to the Chief of Police or his or her designee for his or her review.
(c) Appointing Authority:
(1) The Chief of Police shall appoint qualified applicants as disabled person parking enforcement volunteers, pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/11-1301.7
(2) The Chief of Police may, at any time and without cause remove the authorization of any person to act as a disabled person parking enforcement volunteer, by giving the person a written notice that his or her authorization to act as a disabled person parking enforcement volunteer has been removed.
(d) Requirements: Before any appointment may become effective, each disabled person parking enforcement volunteer shall:
(1) Satisfactorily complete a course of training on parking law pertaining to persons with a disability and enforcement to be developed and conducted by the Police Department.
(2) Sign disabled person parking enforcement volunteer program application with the Police Department in which the applicant:
A. Acknowledges that such disabled person parking enforcement volunteer and his or her heirs and assigns have no rights to any claim against the City, its officers, employees, and agents for any injury, death or property damage resulting from or due to any and all disabled person parking enforcement activities.
B. Specifically holds harmless the City, its officers, employees and agents, from liability for any of his or her acts or omissions taken in connection with his or her appointment as a disabled person parking enforcement volunteer.
C. Agrees to testify as may be required at all court and administrative proceedings relating to his or her issuance of a citation or filing of charges against a person for a violation of the parking law pertaining to persons with a disability.
D. Agrees to comply with all applicable laws and ordinances as they relate to the performance of the volunteer services.
(3) Complete any other forms which the Police Department determines are necessary in connection with the volunteer's services.
(4) Once an applicant has been accepted as a disabled person parking enforcement volunteer, they will be issued an identification card that will be worn on the outer garment at all times while acting as a disabled person parking enforcement volunteer. A disabled person parking enforcement volunteer will not use their status as a volunteer to solicit employment, business, sales or any other related endeavor. Violation of this section is cause for dismissal from the program.
(5) All disabled person parking enforcement volunteers shall provide notice of any change of name, address, or telephone number to the Chief of Police no later than ten days after the effectiveness of the change.
(e) Limitations of Volunteers.
(1) Persons appointed as disabled person parking enforcement volunteers are hereby authorized, as provided by this section to issue citations against any persons relating to any vehicle found to be parked in a parking space or parking area designated for the exclusive use of vehicles transporting persons with disabilities in the City in violation of Section 480.24, as amended.
(2) Persons appointed as disabled person parking enforcement volunteers are subject to the following limitations:
A. No disabled person parking enforcement volunteer shall be deemed a peace officer, nor receive any compensation from the City while acting in the capacity of a disabled person parking enforcement volunteer.
B. No disabled person parking enforcement volunteer shall be required to complete training as a peace officer.
C. No disabled person parking enforcement volunteer shall have the power or authority to enforce other traffic, civil, or criminal laws.
D. No disabled person parking enforcement volunteer shall possess or carry firearms or other weapons for the purpose of or while acting as a disabled person parking enforcement volunteer.
E. No disabled person parking enforcement volunteer shall be entitled to any indemnification from the City for any injury or property damage sustained as a result of enforcement activities. Each disabled person parking enforcement volunteer shall specifically acknowledge that such disabled person parking enforcement volunteer has no rights to any claim of injury or property damage resulting from disabled person parking enforcement activities.
F. No agency, department, officer or employee of the City shall be liable or accountable for any act or omission of any person appointed as a disabled person parking enforcement volunteer pursuant to this section. Each disabled person parking enforcement volunteer shall specifically hold harmless the City, its employees, officers, and agents, from liability for such act or omission by such disabled person parking enforcement volunteer.
(Ord. 2007-74. Passed 10-15-07.)