Medium-duty trucks used to have a handbrake setup with two great features. One was a small knob on the end of the handle that adjusted the cable length. If the brake wasn't holding you could release it, take a couple turns on the knob and set it again.
It also had an over-center design. As you pulled the handle up, the mechanism was working in an arc. As it passed over the top of the arc it hit a stop and was locked. It took a little effort in the other direction to get it back over the top and then it went on to full release.
Or you could probably tighten the cable a little more so that it was impossible to get locked over center and use it for handbrake turns.
