Blue Badge holders should keep up to date on the regulations and guidance on renewing or misusing their card – or they may face being slapped with a £1,000 fine.
originally publish Linda Howard Money and Consumer Writer Alex Croft
Blue Badge holders risk being hit by a £1,000 fine if they leave it on display when they no longer need it – or if they ‘misuse’ it.
The Blue Badge enables people with disability or health condition that impacts their ability to walk to park closer to places they want to go. Any Blue Badge holder, whether driver or passenger, can park in accessible parking bays. However, some examples of Blue Badge misuse can lead to prosecution as they are classed as a crime. These include displaying the piece of plastic in such a way that the details on the front aren’t readable or creating a copy of the badge, which can all be classed as misuse.
The Department of Transport guidance says: “It is a criminal offence for you or anyone else to misuse the badge. Doing so could lead to a £1,000 fine and confiscation of the badge.”
Examples of what may count as misuse include:
allowing other people to use your badge when you are not with them
allowing others to take benefit from your badge while you sit in the car
displaying a badge so that the details on the front cannot be read
copying or tampering with the badge
using the badge if it is expired
using the badge if you are no longer eligible
Local Authorities have the right to investigate individuals who they believe are misusing their badge, or allowing others to misuse their badge. If you are found guilty of misuse, your badge could be withdrawn – the Local Authority has the right to refuse any future badge applications, the Daily Record reports.
How to display your badge correctly
The easiest and quickest issue to fix is making sure you’re displaying the badge properly. At the top of the badge in a yellow banner on either side, it says ‘front’ and ‘back’ – the ‘back’ side shows your picture, expiry date, badge number and full name and should not be visible through the windscreen.
If your vehicle has no dashboard, it should still be displayed somewhere it is clearly read. If your badge becomes unreadable through wear and tear, return the badge to your Local Authority so that they can issue you with a new one.
Returning your Blue Badge
You must return a badge to your Local Authority if:
the badge has expired
your medical condition or mobility improves and you no longer qualify for the badge
the badge becomes damaged or faded and cannot be read
your entitlement for a temporary badge ends
the badge holder dies
you have misused your badge and have received a withdrawal notice
A Blue Badge costs up to £10 in England, £20 in Scotland, and is free in Wales. They are valid for three years