General Chat

There are two types ,single and double, sometimes (You have to enquire) the Local Council let you ignore them. but it is at their discression.

also Blue Badge holders cannot park on double yellow lines if there is also a yellow flash on the kerb itself

The dis abled parking areas are clearly marked in most places, if you get done for parking where you should,nt Tough.you should be able to read. by the way, I you are going to have your badge renewed, be prepered for at least a 2month wait,thats how long it took ,they want to know all details of heath and other things again,and(so they say)do not consult Doctors or Hospitals,its now run by a private company (Quango)and they want more information than ever,so be prepared. :-S :-S

Aaaah speaking with your MP :-P

When the RADAR keys were introduced I wrote to my MP complaining that able bodied can pee for free whereas less able people had to pay for their RADAR key in order to access a public (and more so recently) disabled loos in pubs/shops.

He agreed and passed my complaint onto the Minister for the Disabled.

I had a 2 x A4 reply basically saying tough luck.

I pointed out that anyone in receipt of middle or higher mobility or care could easily be issued with a free key. That was ignored!

Peed me off no end (sorry for the pun)

Sue

Found the link I was looking at and I was right I did see that.

Misusing Blue Badges




Report misuse of a Blue Badge

If you think someone is misusing a Blue Badge, you can report it to your local authority
Find your local authority Opens new window

Blue Badges are the property of local councils, who can take them away if they are misused.

The Blue Badge is for your use only, and it is an offence to allow other people to use it. It is also an offence to park in an on-street Blue Badge parking bay without displaying a badge.

If you think that a Blue Badge is being misused you should:
•get as many details as possible from the badge on display
•report the matter to your local authority

The maximum fine for someone convicted is £1,000 plus any additional penalty for the related parking offence.

It is not illegal to remain in the vehicle with the badge displayed if you are a Blue Badge holder or waiting for the Blue Badge holder to return. However, you should consider using a car park whenever possible.

The Blue Badge Scheme does not apply to off-street car parks, for example supermarket car parks. However, off-street car parks may provide bays for Blue Badge holders. Please check any signs or notices before parking.

If you think people are unfairly parking in bays reserved for disabled people, contact the management of the store or car park.

Home > Cars & Car Travel > Disabled Parking: Your RightsDisabled Parking: Your Rights
Author: Jennie Kermode - Updated: 27 July 2011 | Comment
Figuring out what you are and are not allowed to do with your car when you're disabled can be complicated. Many people don't realise that they don't actually need to own or drive a car in order to be covered under disability parking schemes. It's possible to get help even if you don't receive disability benefits, and you can even get special arrangements made to help you park close to your own home.


The Blue Badge Scheme
Most parts of Britain are covered by the Blue Badge scheme. This differs slightly in England, Scotland and Wales, but the basic principle is the same. You can apply for a blue badge from your local council - just call their general enquiries number or visit their website. Your blue badge will give you special parking privileges to make it easier for you to stop your car close to where you need to be.

If you are registered blind, are receiving the high rate of Disability Living Allowance for mobility or are receiving a War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement, you can get a blue badge automatically. If you are not in this situation but you do have a disability that makes it difficult to get around (including difficulty in carrying things or the need to keep heavy medical equipment close to you), you can apply for a badge on a discretionary basis. You can use your badge in any car.

You don't need to be the driver of a car to use your blue badge, as long as you are travelling in it. It must be clearly on display at all times when you are parked. If you ride a motorbike you can get a special secure permit holder to keep it safe.

Related on Disabled Travel Advice...
Disabled Visitors to Theme Parks
Car Insurance and Disability
Driving Issues for People With Pain and Fatigue
Learning to Drive When Disabled

Local Badge Schemes
Some major cities have their own badge schemes to prevent congestion. These badges make special parking provisions available to local residents only. If you have a blue badge, however, you can still park in the specially designated blue badge parking spaces in these cities.

In Northern Ireland, a blue badge will give you access to some areas but you will need a white badge for others. This single scheme applies across the whole of the country.


Where You Can Park
A blue badge will let you park in registered blue badge parking spaces. You can park anywhere that there is an on-street parking meter or a pay and display machine without having to pay, for as long as you want. You can park on single or double yellow lines as long as there are no signs prohibiting loading and unloading, but in England and Wales you are only allowed to do this for up to three hours at a time.

Some private car parks operate special rules for blue badge holders; for instance, supermarkets may have reserved parking spaces close to their entrances. Sometimes private car parks offer free parking to badge holders where they charge other users, but you will have to check the rules on entering them. Disabled drivers have no automatic right to use private car parks for free.

Blue badge access does not apply at most airports but some have their own special facilities for disabled travellers arriving by car. Your travel agent will be able to help you clarify this in each case.


Parking Near Home
If your disability means that you need to park close to your home, your local council can help. If you live in an area where everybody parks on the street, you can arrange to have a special disabled parking space created for your car or for a car driven by somebody living at your address who helps you get around.

If you have private parking at your home but can't always access it because of how other people park, you can ask the council to mark the street as an access route. If your disability means you can no longer use the parking facilities on your property, you can apply for a reserved on street parking space.

Here are some quick rules for people that use a Blue Badge:

•It is your responsiblity as badge holder to make sure that it is used properly.
•Do NOT allow other people to use it.
•Make sure that the details on the front of the badge stay legible. If they become unreadable then the badge must be returned to the address it was issued from so that it can be re-issued.
•Do NOT use the badge to allow non-disabled people to take advantage of the benefits whilst you sit in the car.
The government has recently announced some changes to the ‘Blue Badge’ scheme. These really should not affect those who are using their badges correctly, as they are designed to enforce the correct use only. There are two main changes that members should be aware of:

1.It will become a criminal offence in future to abuse your badge. i.e., it won’t be a small statuary fine, it will mean that the badge, in a worse case scenario, will be permanently confiscated and the fine could be as much as £1000. An example is somebody using your badge when you are not even in the vehicle, for instance, your son/daughter using your badge for his/her convenience. Remember that the badge has been issued to the named person and nobody else. If, as in the above example, you only travel in that vehicle occasionally, then the badge should be kept by you, not left in the vehicle. If left there it could be a temptation that could result in you losing, permanently, your badge.
2.Any person responsible for policing a car park will be able to ask to examine your badge, not just a serving police officer. It is therefore going to be much simpler for offences to be detected.


As an organisation we believe that these changes are long overdue. They may result in a little inconvenience for our members, but should make it a lot less worth it for cheats to use spaces set aside for those that actually need them.



The changes are set out in a Department of Transport leaflet which can be obtained by telephone 020 7944 2914 or by e-mail [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it if residing in England. Wales 029 2082 6501 [email protected] This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Scotland 0131 244 0869/0861. Belfast 02890 540434.


Blue Badge Rules - The Disabled Motorists Federation
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www.dmfed.org.uk/blue-badge-rules - Cached


DirectGov - Blue Badge Rules and Applications

I think that supermarket and other private car parks can actually collect fines, for whatever, overstaying a 2/3 hour limit for example, but there has to be a sign large enough and legible enough for you to see when you park. Our Tesco has such signs for (I think) 3 hour parking only but I am not sure if there is anything about diabled parking/Mother and child. The mother and child is nearer to the store entrance than disabed, mainly I think so that Mums with small children can get them under cover quickly, I too would rather they had dedicated parking than rammed their door into my car when getting littly out of the car seat.

My sister has a blue badge, to look at her she looks as fit as I am, and some days she is, but other days she will struggle to walk. You just can't tell. And I will have to go back and check, but on the gove site link early on in this thread I am sure Is aw that the diabled person does not have to get out of the car, If I read that correctly it is a very strange rule.

edit: I can't find that link now, has it been deleted?

I agree, parking in disabled bays when fit is a selfish thing to do,and I also try and park away from others cars if possible, mostly because of trolleys 'running away' and causing damage to parked vehicles.
But re. supermarket car-parks.... I was given to understand that their fines are not lawful and can be contested.

Blue badges are also issued to parents of very young children who are disabled, and imo this is a good thing for their families,who need as much help as they can get.

Mau

as I pointed out in my posting Bob, my husband looked fit and well - but he most definitely wasn't - his disability was not visible - I think the fact that he died of his illness within six months of receiving the badge is proof enough of that - many illnesses are not "visible" yet the person is entitled to a blue badge - my OH had a very rare lung disease - akin to asbestosis - it was fibrosing alveolitis - once you ar diagnosed there is not treatmnt and no cure, you just wait to die - and a painful and traumatic death it is too - your lungs get covered in a fibrous tissue which slowly coats the lungs making it impossible for them to expand - eventually the time comes when they can no longer expand and you fight for breath which ain't gonna come - bit like drowning - the solution is a massive morphine jab to end life quickly rather than watch them thrashing about the bed gasping for air - not nice

To All, It seems people feel strongly about this subject, so why not get as many names on paper backing the subject up in your area, then get your local paper & MP on your side & see what can be done about it?

Must admit when I read this post I also thought it was close to home "in Asda near the house today.".

I wouldn't have thought that a fine could have been imposed on anyone in a private car park unless there is a special notice .I agree parking in a disabled space is a selfish thing to do.

As for parent and child having a bigger parking space I am in agreement with that. Keep their flying doors away from my paintwork , I always park as far away as I can and accept the walk. Being a pensioner I don't have to walk too far as I always go shopping when the majority of people are at work. -jl

It is the same with people that pay for parking permits where they live .. then come home from work and cannot park because people that dont even live in that street have parked there .

Mummo

Neither does our Tesco's i have seen cars with Blue badges parked in P&T spaces cos there is no bays left, it really does need to be sorted

Just to clarify a point.............if a person is disabled and has a blue badge and they are in the car it doesn't mean you can park in a disabled bay or on yellow lines just because they are in the car, it is them that have to get out the car not them sit in it while you get out and do whatever.
Our local Asda store will not do anything about the misuse of disable bays as they donot want to lose customers :-|

Some people have an illness you can't see, but are still in a hell of a lot of pain & can't walk very far at all. They also need a lot of room to get out of the car they are in. They might look fit but that does not mean they are fit. If they have a blue badge then that should be enough to tell the person that has it is in need of it. They don't just hand them out to anybody that ask's for one. Hospitals should learn to be more helpful & stop others from parking in disabled bays if they dont have badges.

The parent and child parking bays are a marketing ploy. People with families need to spend money to feed them. They would only be inconvenienced by using a narrower standard parking bay but need to be enticed into the business with the offer of a special service of their own.

l take friends to hospital using their badge, its horrendous for anyone to park at this hospital and neither of them can walk far and are both in alot of pain, if the disabled spaces are full l park where l can and walk.
And Yep l think anyone that parks in disabled bays that are not disabled, should be fined!!

jude :-|

Yes I know, but I was referring to the " fit looking person" in the carpark scene.

Some people are physically UNABLE while looking fit...
Bob

Bob you have to be able to prove your ill enough to get one, thats why they are so valuble & get stolen.