(A) The Chief of Police or his or her designee shall have the authority to appoint or remove any qualified person who is a citizen of the United States, is a resident of the city, is of good moral character and who has not previously been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor of a Grade B or higher to enforce the provisions of Tex. Transportation Code §§ 681.001 et seq. in the city.
(B) Each person appointed pursuant to this section shall complete an application and satisfactorily complete a course of training on the enforcement of the law on parking for disabled persons.
(C) The application required by division (B) above shall show the name and address of the applicant, the name and address of the immediate members of the family of the applicant, the applicant’s marital status and shall have attached thereto a photograph of the applicant, together with sufficient fingerprints to definitely identify the applicant. The Chief of Police or his or her designee is specifically authorized to require additional information from the applicant. Upon receipt of the application required by the division (B) above, the Chief of Police or his or her designee shall cause a complete and thorough investigation to be made of the applicant to determine his or her moral, physical and mental qualifications.
(D) Any qualified persons so appointed to enforce the statute shall have the power to serve citations for violations for failure to comply with the provisions of Tex. Transportation Code §§ 681.001 et seq. Issuance of citations shall be made in the same manner as any law enforcement officer of the state, county or municipality of the state, subject to the following limitations.
(1) No person so appointed shall be deemed a peace officer, nor an employee of the state, county or the city, nor receive any compensation therefrom.
(2) No appointed person shall be required to complete training as a peace officer.
(3) No appointed person shall have the power or duty to enforce other traffic or criminal laws.
(4) No appointed person shall possess or carry firearms or other weapons for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the law on parking for the disabled.
(5) No appointed person shall be entitled to any indemnification from the state, the county or the city for any injury or property damage sustained as a result of enforcement activities. Each appointed person shall specifically acknowledge that such person has no rights to any claim of injury or property damage which may result while enforcing the provisions of the law on parking for the disabled.
(6) No government, agency, department or officer of the state, county or the city shall be liable or accountable for any act or omission of any person appointed to issue citations for violations of the law made the subject of this section. Each authorized person shall specifically hold harmless the city, its employees, officers and agents from liability for any such act or omission by such authorized person.
(Ord. 2006-03, passed 7-18-2006)