More than 3,700 handicap violations were written last year, and not by police, but by volunteers.
Pete Spudich and Jenie Lowry are two of 80 people who volunteer for the public safety program, part of volunteers in policing.
They are trained to spot people who park illegally in handicap and fire lane zones.
When need be they write tickets.
Police say the VIP program allows officers to focus on violent criminals while the volunteers focus on some of the more minor but important offenses.
Officer Ray Todd spearheaded the program for the last five years. He says, "The volunteers are working for the community, they're working for the City of San Antonio to make this place a safer place to live."
Police volunteers are sworn-in by a judge. They must undergo a special training program by the police department before they can begin writing parking citations.
