GALVESTON — Steve Wood used to carry a stack of cards that said: “You’re parked in a handicapped spot — thanks for making me walk.”

He would leave them on the windshields of cars parked illegally in handicapped parking spots.

Finding cars parked illegally in handicapped spots is not as common in Galveston, where he moved a year ago, Wood said as he piled bags of groceries on top of the wheelchair folded up in the back of his car.

But it’s still a good idea for the city to enforce the law, he said.

On Thursday, the city council voted unanimously to create a volunteer parking enforcement posse to patrol parking lots looking for cars parked illegally in handicapped spots.

The deputized volunteers, likely graduates of the citizens police academy, will have the authority to write tickets.

Programs like Galveston’s have been very successful in other cities, Police Chief Charles Wiley said.

At least 30 other Texas cities, including Alvin and Houston, have similar programs, according to city records.

“Handicapped parking enforcement has not been what it should be,” said Wiley, explaining why he proposed the force.

Wiley will choose the volunteers, who will go through a training program to help them deal with potentially confrontational encounters.

The more training the better, said Councilwoman Karen Mahoney, who told Wiley she had a close call one time when she confronted a driver who had a permit but didn’t look like he needed one.

“I almost went toe-to-toe on that one,” she said with a laugh.

The volunteers will work in pairs and carry a police radio in case they ever need to call for help, Wiley said.

They will police all parking lots that are open to the public, even if they are owned by a private entity, Wiley said.

Wood suggested they start at Wal-Mart, the only place he’s seen drivers consistently park in handicapped spots illegally.

The spots designed for vans with wheelchair access are often taken up by several cars parked sideways, he said.