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Houston has this: https://www.houstontx.gov/parking/volunteer.html https://www.houstontx.gov/parking/volunteer.html Take a 4 hour class, and you can write tick

Houston has this: https://www.houstontx.gov/parking/volunteer.html https://www.houstontx.gov/parking/volunteer.html Take a 4 hour class, and you can write tickets for cars parked illegally in handicap spots.

flyGuyOnTheSly 7y ago
Only handicap spots? If so, why? Just the easiest thing to spot and not misdiagnose, I guess?
- sokoloff 7y ago
  Probably has the most sympathetic victims and has near-zero chance for self-dealing.
  - m463 7y ago
    Would be interesting to see if there's a backlash if they could do: - non-EV cars in EV charging spots - EVs not hooked up to charge in EV charging spots
    - sokoloff 7y ago
      I'm not sure I'd support that and I daily drive a short-range pure EV (Nissan LEAF).
      - ceejayoz 7y ago
        Can you elaborate on why you're not sure you'd support it? "Charging spots are for charging" seems very reasonable.
        gpm 7y ago
        For one - you can unplug someone else's car and take a picture of it...
        m463 7y ago
        that's very sneaky. I think teslas have the ability to lock the cable in the charging port.
        sokoloff 7y ago
        I thought that was only for the Tesla cable (or the Tesla to J1772 adapter), but not the J1772 cable itself. There's an aftermarket $60 for $1 worth of plastic lock system: https://evannex.com/products/capturepro-charging-lock-for-tesla-model-3 https://evannex.com/products/capturepro-charging-lock-for-te...
        m463 7y ago
        yes, I wasn't sure of the tesla cable either, because they all have buttons on them. You press the button and charging comes to a stop and the cable unlocks. I don't know if the car key has to be in range for this to happen, or if it works for anyone who presses the button.
        sokoloff 7y ago
        There's already significant (and hard to fathom) backlash against electric car owners "getting free gas" at some of these charging stations. Electric car owners aren't nearly as sympathetic a victim set as handicapped. Couple that with gpm's sibling comment and I think it's too ripe for abuse. (I hate getting ICEd out of a charging spot as much as anyone, but I'm not sure that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks here.)
        m463 7y ago
        I don't know the right terminology, but maybe it's a "power" thing. For instance, if it's two people at the same power level, it gets complicated. If it's someone at a high power level defending someone at a lower power level, it's ok. So defending handicapped people, or kids, or puppies is ok. I've heard stories of people breaking a car window to get a kid or puppy out, and that's pretty much universally accepted. But defending other people at the same level as yourself might be a harder sell. I remember reading that the difference between police and citizens is that police can give out misdemeanor tickets.
- bilbo0s 7y ago
  Also, When I was living there, I heard it's an easy way for the municipality to make more money. Might not be the reason, but those were the rumors in the Third Ward/Museum District neighborhood.
lostlogin 7y ago
I wonder what the 4 hours covers? I can’t find any programme or similar on the linked site.

flyGuyOnTheSly 7y ago

Only handicap spots? If so, why? Just the easiest thing to spot and not misdiagnose, I guess?

sokoloff 7y ago
Probably has the most sympathetic victims and has near-zero chance for self-dealing.
- m463 7y ago
  Would be interesting to see if there's a backlash if they could do: - non-EV cars in EV charging spots - EVs not hooked up to charge in EV charging spots
  - sokoloff 7y ago
    I'm not sure I'd support that and I daily drive a short-range pure EV (Nissan LEAF).
    - ceejayoz 7y ago
      Can you elaborate on why you're not sure you'd support it? "Charging spots are for charging" seems very reasonable.
      - gpm 7y ago
        For one - you can unplug someone else's car and take a picture of it...
        m463 7y ago
        that's very sneaky. I think teslas have the ability to lock the cable in the charging port.
        sokoloff 7y ago
        I thought that was only for the Tesla cable (or the Tesla to J1772 adapter), but not the J1772 cable itself. There's an aftermarket $60 for $1 worth of plastic lock system: https://evannex.com/products/capturepro-charging-lock-for-tesla-model-3 https://evannex.com/products/capturepro-charging-lock-for-te...
        m463 7y ago
        yes, I wasn't sure of the tesla cable either, because they all have buttons on them. You press the button and charging comes to a stop and the cable unlocks. I don't know if the car key has to be in range for this to happen, or if it works for anyone who presses the button.
      - sokoloff 7y ago
        There's already significant (and hard to fathom) backlash against electric car owners "getting free gas" at some of these charging stations. Electric car owners aren't nearly as sympathetic a victim set as handicapped. Couple that with gpm's sibling comment and I think it's too ripe for abuse. (I hate getting ICEd out of a charging spot as much as anyone, but I'm not sure that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks here.)
        m463 7y ago
        I don't know the right terminology, but maybe it's a "power" thing. For instance, if it's two people at the same power level, it gets complicated. If it's someone at a high power level defending someone at a lower power level, it's ok. So defending handicapped people, or kids, or puppies is ok. I've heard stories of people breaking a car window to get a kid or puppy out, and that's pretty much universally accepted. But defending other people at the same level as yourself might be a harder sell. I remember reading that the difference between police and citizens is that police can give out misdemeanor tickets.
bilbo0s 7y ago
Also, When I was living there, I heard it's an easy way for the municipality to make more money. Might not be the reason, but those were the rumors in the Third Ward/Museum District neighborhood.

lostlogin 7y ago

I wonder what the 4 hours covers? I can’t find any programme or similar on the linked site.