Blue Badge - Use and Abuse

[Dr_Gonzo]

I don't really know much about Blue Badges, but do they display to whom the badge belongs or is it just a serial number?

Edited by Dr_Gonzo on Wednesday 11th May 15:12

[STW2010]

Just because someone doesn't appear to be disabled doesn't mean that they are not.

[tyranical]

If someone looks and moves completely normally then they shouldn't need to be able to park in places others can't.

[SlimRick]

tyranical said:

If someone looks and moves completely normally then they shouldn't need to be able to park in places others can't.

I can walk quite normally for around 100yds, after that I tend to be crippled for about a week afterwards.

[tyranical]

SlimRick said:

I can walk quite normally for around 100yds, after that I tend to be crippled for about a week afterwards.

Thats not completely normally then is it.

[Dr_Gonzo]

STW2010 said:

Just because someone doesn't appear to be disabled doesn't mean that they are not.

Edited by Dr_Gonzo on Wednesday 11th May 15:12

[STW2010]

Dr_Gonzo said:

STW2010 said:

Just because someone doesn't appear to be disabled doesn't mean that they are not.

What if they stated that they're not disabled when applying for a job and have no problem walking up four lights of stairs or walking round town to go shopping?

The post above covers what I was getting at. In your example it would seem that they are able-bodied

[SlimRick]

tyranical said:

Thats not completely normally then is it.

For the first 100yds it is

[nogsk]

Claptrap - The blue badge is for the use of the holder. Someone collecting a disabled person or indeed dropping them off is entitled to use the badge and the privilege - as long as it's for the benefit of the blue badge holder.

There are many forms of disblement, I wouldn't want to jump to any conclusions.

However - if the blue badge is being mis used by someone who has no reason apart from the convenience of taking up a space that could otherwise be used by an entitled person then they should be taken out and shot.

Sorry, I am a badge holder and misuse really gets my goat!

[Hackney]

Saw an instance of this the other day.
Parking was severely restricted near to the football ground I was going to.

I followed and parked behind a car, I was expecting an attendant to ask me for the parking fee. The driver of the car in front of me got straight out of the car and walked off with (presumably) his son.

The attendant approached me and told me I couldn't park there as it was blue badge holders only. I couldn't see the car infront's windscreen but asked if it had a blue badge. The attendant said it had.

I was with my mum at the time, who holds a blue badge - as she drives my gran around. She never uses the badge except when my gran is in her car. And even then I suspect she'd only use it to park in a disabled space at Sainsbury's.

Point is, this guy was in no way disabled. Nor was his kid.

[Dr_Gonzo]

nogsk said:

Claptrap - The blue badge is for the use of the holder. Someone collecting a disabled person or indeed dropping them off is entitled to use the badge and the privilege - as long as it's for the benefit of the blue badge holder.

There are many forms of disblement, I wouldn't want to jump to any conclusions.

However - if the blue badge is being mis used by someone who has no reason apart from the convenience of taking up a space that could otherwise be used by an entitled person then they should be taken out and shot.

Sorry, I am a badge holder and misuse really gets my goat!

Can I ask what information the blue badge displays? Does it have name, a photo, or just a serial number?

Thanks,

The Doctor

[nogsk]

It should have all of that, plus if parked on a yellow line or other restricted parking area should be accompanied by a 'time card' which is a card with a moveble clock thingy - this is set at departure of the vehicle as disabeld parking in restricted areas is limited to 3 hours.
If the vehicle is parked in an unrestricted bay, such as a supermarket or other private parking then only the badge needs displaying.

The best thing to do if you are suspicious that the badge is fraudulent or the use of it is, would be to ask a passing traffic warden who will know what to look for in the badge detail.

To be honest, the Police don't really see it as a priority, though there are occassional blitzes by the authorities which normally result in the discovery that 25% of badges are either fake or being misused.

It's a big thing in bigger cities and costs councils shedloads in lost revenues, but in rural ares it seems to be less of a concern.

[Willo GT3]

Tricky one this. Whilst there are no doubt plenty of people who abuse the system, I remember a few years ago when my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer he was entitled to one. He didn't use it because it was against his principles (in that he wasn't unable to walk so didn't feel it was appropriate) but worth remembering. The rules may have changed now but if not you don't necessarily have to be obviously physically disabled to use one. The user might be dealing with something even worse.

[Animal]

Hackney said:

Point is, this guy was in no way disabled. Nor was his kid.

Could you tell by looking thougg?

I know someone who has a blue badge - she doesn't look disabled but a serious heart condition means she can't walk very far or risk over-exertion. I wonder how much grief she gets?

[Petemate]

Resurrected subject, this. Emotive too. My situation is similar to another on this thread. I can walk OK for up to around 50 yards, then that it is - agony. Completely bu**ered left ankle from a m/bike accident years ago - no details, sorry, even some PH-ers have weak stomachs. Well, in my job in our office I have to nip out into the warehouse often to check on airline bags, and even at 74 I am one of the quickest out there and back. BUT - that is only a short walk, and most of the day I have to elevate the leg (handily, the PC tower is just in the right place, at the right height, under the desk). If I go to any motor shows etc, sadly now it is prettywell wheelchair time unless I take my walking stick thingy with a little bit of canvas, for me bum, that unflolds with 3 legs. (note the addition of a comma to show that it is NOT my bum that unfolds....) Then it is frequent stops which take away the enjoyment. Don't get me wrong - there are people with far worse conditions out there - just stating my case.
Going round the supermarkets cn be an issue, luckily the ones we use have seating available.
Wardens on public roads have the right since, I think, Sept 2009 to insist on inspection of the photo side of the badge when a person is parking the car or returning to it. No excuse for mis-use - the rules are quite clear and anyone with a badge allowing this clearly doesn't deserve it.

[mercfunder]

Hackney said:

S
I followed and parked behind a car, I was expecting an attendant to ask me for the parking fee. The driver of the car in front of me got straight out of the car and walked off with (presumably) his son.

Qualified doctor are you?

This really gets on my tits, idiots making assumptions re. disabled parking.
The badge has a photo of the holder on it, so if the bloke was scamming it would be pretty easy for the attendant to tell.

[tvrgit]

Animal said:

Could you tell by looking thougg?

I know someone who has a blue badge - she doesn't look disabled but a serious heart condition means she can't walk very far or risk over-exertion. I wonder how much grief she gets?

Ditto - and in our case, the grief was so great that she didn't renew the badge - it was easier not to go places, than to go, but then have the day out ruined by fkwitted drivel from misinformed interfering busybodies. Of which, as this thread demonstrates, there are a few.

[bozmandb9]

mercfunder said:

Qualified doctor are you?

This really gets on my tits, idiots making assumptions re. disabled parking.
The badge has a photo of the holder on it, so if the bloke was scamming it would be pretty easy for the attendant to tell.

Yeah, like because nobody in this country would ever intentionally pretend to have a disability, or exaggerate it in order to claim benefits, and nobody ever gets a blue badge who doesn't really need it!

[sday12]

Gets my goat when people park in disabled bay, don't display a blue badge and get shirty when I say:

"You've forgotten to display your blue badge"


Surely if you are parking there validly that would be taken as friendly assitance?

[alcovrugbyfan]

This is much the same as parking in parent and child spaces when you obviously don't have a child with you. It really winds me up.