06:12 PM CDT on Wednesday, July 19, 2006

By Doug Miller / 11 News

Disabled drivers are downright angry about people abusing handicap parking permits.  And now, Houston is talking about getting tough on those able-bodied drivers.

The city is considering everything from boosting fines to booting cars.

“I work at Westbury High School,” said Joel Hollis.

Put yourself in Joel Hollis’ shoes.  Just imagine you’re handicapped and all the handicap parking spaces are taken.

“Well, people generally are not disabled when they say they are,” Hollis said.

It is no secret that able-bodied people have used handicap tags as free parking passes.

It even led to the downfall of a county constable convicted in connection with using her mother’s parking tag.

The abuse of these handicap parking tags to avoid paying for parking on Houston streets is just plain rampant.  Nothing the city government has done has put a stop to it.  Now, the city’s parking commission wants to take action.

Among the proposals:  Clearing the way for perjury charges for lying on handicap permit applications, a process for confiscating illegal parking permits and educating doctors who certify patients for handicap parking permits.

“I get irate when I look at someone who puts a placard up and hops out of their 4x4 truck, obviously shows no sign of a disability,” said David Fowler, Disabled Parking Committee.

But an idea the limit the time disabled drivers can park free at meters faces some opposition.

“There’s not a lot of alternatives, in terms of proper, legal, accessible handicap locations,” said Ray Jones, disability activist.

“I don’t find that too bad,” Hollis said.

Still, disabled drivers are glad the city’s finally talking tough about abusers of handicap parking.