As neighborhoods across Fort Bend County continue to grow beyond city limits, county leaders say they are stepping up efforts to address one of the most common concerns residents raise: commercial vehicles operating and parking inside residential communities.

For residents in Lakemont, where neighborhood safety, traffic flow, and protecting community infrastructure remain important priorities, Fort Bend County officials say a new specialized enforcement unit is intended to improve response times and strengthen enforcement in unincorporated areas experiencing rapid growth.

Fort Bend County Precinct 4 officials announced the creation of a new patrol and code enforcement unit this week that will focus specifically on commercial vehicle violations and traffic-related safety concerns in unincorporated areas of the precinct. County leaders say the move is designed to improve neighborhood safety, protect residential infrastructure, and respond more quickly to resident complaints as development accelerates across the county.

The announcement was made Thursday, May 28, during a press conference in Richmond featuring Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Commissioner Dexter L. McCoy, Constable Patrick Quincy, District Attorney Brian Middleton, County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson, and Assistant County Engineer Chris Debaillon.

The initiative was unanimously approved by Commissioners Court during its May 14 session and includes funding for two constable deputies and one sergeant assigned specifically to patrol unincorporated areas within Precinct 4.

“Ordinance violations have been one of the largest issues constituents have contacted our office about since coming to office,” said Commissioner Dexter L. McCoy. “I’m so excited that we will now be able to respond to residents’ concerns quicker and more effectively. I thank Constable Quincy for bringing this idea to my office and leadership in prioritizing this effort.”

Addressing Traffic Safety and Neighborhood Concerns in Communities Like Lakemont

County officials say the specialized unit comes at a critical time as Fort Bend County continues to rank among the fastest-growing and most diverse counties in the nation. A growing number of residents now live in communities outside incorporated city limits, where city police departments do not have jurisdiction.

For homeowners and families in communities like Lakemont, county officials say the initiative is aimed at addressing ongoing concerns involving tractor-trailers and commercial motor vehicles driving through or parking overnight in residential neighborhoods. Officials say those concerns also include speeding, stop sign violations, road damage, and safety hazards for families, pedestrians, and motorists.

District Attorney Brian Middleton described the effort as a proactive approach to protecting neighborhood quality of life.

“This is a fine example of community policing,” Middleton said. “Coming together to prevent, what I would call, value destroying encroachment. We want to live in nice neighborhoods, and we don’t want to see massive 80,000-pound vehicles driving down our street and creating potholes.”

County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson explained that civil enforcement measures will work alongside law enforcement efforts to improve compliance.

“These civil regulations will be used in support of law enforcement to simply just make our community safe,” Smith-Lawson said. “So, if you have a commercial vehicle, we encourage you to move or we will be moving it.”

How Residents in Lakemont Can Request “No Commercial Vehicle” Signage

During the press conference, Assistant County Engineer Chris Debaillon shared details about how neighborhoods can request signage prohibiting overnight commercial vehicle parking.

Under Texas law, Fort Bend County may install “no commercial vehicle” parking signs at neighborhood entrances if residents submit a petition representing at least 25% of the neighborhood.

“The state law does allow us to put a single sign at each entrance of the neighborhood banning overnight commercial vehicle parking,” Debaillon said. “It does require a signed petition representing 25% of the neighborhood, and we ask that you contact your HOA to have them interface with us.”

Residents and homeowners associations can contact the Fort Bend County engineering office at traffic@fbctx.gov for additional information about the petition process.

Residents in Lakemont looking for contact information for their homeowners association or management company can also visit MyNeighborhoodNews.com/Lakemont for community resources and neighborhood leadership information.

Patrols Expected to Begin This Summer

The new unit will operate under the Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office and will be overseen by Constable Patrick Quincy. Officials say deputies assigned to the unit will receive specialized training to investigate, document, and respond to violations involving commercial vehicles and unsafe traffic activity in residential communities.

“We are excited and committed to ensuring that our communities remain safe regardless of whether a neighborhood is within or outside of the city limits,” Quincy said. “I am proud to work with Commissioner McCoy in ensuring that Fort Bend County Precinct 4 remains the best place to live, work, and play. Safety and community response remain the highest priorities of our office.”

County officials emphasized that funding for the initiative comes from County Assistance District sales tax revenue designated for infrastructure, parks, and public safety projects — not from property taxes.

The Precinct 4 Constable’s Office is currently hiring deputies for the specialized unit, with patrol operations expected to begin later this summer.

Residents who wish to report violations or concerns can contact the Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Constable’s Office non-emergency line at 281-341-4665. Emergencies should still be reported by calling 911.

As Fort Bend County continues to expand, county leaders say initiatives like this are intended to help preserve neighborhood safety, reduce infrastructure damage, and ensure residents in communities like Lakemont receive the same level of attention and protection as those living within city boundaries.

Residents can learn more about Fort Bend County Precinct 4 by visiting FBCTX.gov/Precinct4.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on public safety initiatives, infrastructure projects, HOA news, and community developments affecting Lakemont and surrounding Fort Bend County neighborhoods.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.