Bath & North East Somerset Council recently joined forces with 82 other local authorities across the country in a nationwide campaign to crack down on the misuse of Blue Badges.
On Friday 26th May, the council carried out 146 checks on Blue Badges as part of the co-ordinated effort to support disabled motorists and tackle fraudulent use of the badges.
All of the council’s Civil Enforcement Officers participated in the day of action, with additional assistance from their partner, OneWest.
With over 7,600 registered Blue Badge holders in Bath and North East Somerset, the aim was to identify and remove any instances of misuse to ensure the badges are used by those who genuinely need them.
Misuse of Blue Badges can take various forms, including using a badge when the holder is not present in the vehicle, using a badge that belongs to a deceased person, or using an expired badge.
During the action day, checks were conducted on 146 Blue Badges and the council discovered several cases of misuse, resulting in the seizure of three Blue Badges.
This initiative marks the second year of the nationwide Day of Action, following the success of last year’s campaign held in London, which led to the seizure of numerous Blue Badges.
Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for Transport said: ‘We’re glad to support the campaign and continue our efforts against Blue Badge misuse. The disabled parking bays throughout B&NES are a lifeline to vulnerable residents and they’re reserved solely for the people that need them.
“Of course, our Civil Enforcement Officers will continue to monitor and challenge potential instances of misuse and fraud if identified.”
In 2022, the council seized a total of 26 badges related to misuse cases and has a 100% prosecution rate in combating Blue Badge misuse.