A civilian parking enforcement program is seeking volunteers to issue citations to people who park in spaces set aside for disabled people.

Originally under Oregon State Police direction and carried on in the Bay Area last year by Coos Bay and North Bend police departments, the Volunteer Disabled Parking Program utilizes reserve officers to prowl lots for potential violators.

According to Jim Rowe, Coos Bay's civilian police assistant who deals with parking, the volunteers will have the authority to issue tickets for up to $470 to drivers of illegally parked cars, though he said the officers are mainly there to raise awareness.

The positions involve four to five hours of work per week, plus attendance at a monthly meeting. For information about volunteering, those interested can call Rowe at the Coos Bay Police Department at 269-8911.

-Dan Schreiber, Staff Writer