37 replies to this topic

[Apparelyzed]

Blue badge parking measures introduced to combat fraud

Measures to crack down on drivers who abuse the disabled parking system will come into force in England and Scotland from 1 January.

There are an estimated 2.5 million blue badges in circulation, allowing drivers to park on yellow lines as well as avoid parking and congestion charges.

But blue badge fraud is estimated to cost the UK £46m a year.

New badges will have added security features and the method to determine people's eligibility is being improved.

It is hoped the redesign will make blue badges harder to forge or alter.

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "Motorists who pretend to be disabled to get some free parking are frankly disgraceful".

"They prevent real blue badge holders from using parking bays designed for those genuinely in need and they cheat the vast majority of road users who play fair when they park their cars."

Read More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16359850

[wheelman]

This is a long over due issue to be addressed . I see far too many 'cash point sprinters' and lazy feckers using disabled badge holder spaces; but also far too many people using a badge that they either should not have or are entitled to. I have some cracking stickers from 'disabledstickers.com' funny too !!

Local councils still seem to be charging for parking on 'off road' car parks where we live (Shropshire)!

[wheelman]

Its just been on the BBC news. lets hope they have enough staff to do the extra checks. as the government seem to be reducing public sector staff by 1000's

[Scorpio81]

At last! They should have done this years ago. Does anyone know exactly what changes they're going to implement and how they'll make it more fraud-proof?

I've always thought the badges don't actually look that professional and 'official'- for example, the serial number, expiry date and name is written with a marker pen rather than being typed/printed, and my signature has simply been cut from the application form and stuck to the badge before being laminated! Rubbish quality. They look sooo easy to forge. Why can't they be produced to look more like a driving licence (the card component I mean). Oh, and why is the photo on the *back* of the card? Traffic wardens/police can't see that when it's being displayed in a car, which is what they're designed for.

Unfortunately, I doubt these changes will stop people without a badge from parking in disabled spaces. I went to a retail park recently (before christmas) and couldn't get parked at all, despite there being loads of spaces. My sister had to get me out in the middle of the road, causing cars to queue up behind us, then park in a regular space. I was so annoyed that I checked the windscreens of every car in those spaces, and seriously only half of them had badges (and even one of them who did have a badge didn't look like he needed it as he practically ran from the shop into his car ) If a car park is busy, it seems like there are a hell of a lot of people who have no problem parking in a disabled space, as if not being able to get any other space is a good enough reason for doing so.
I've actually heard people say that surely it doesn't matter if a disabled person has to park a little bit further away, it's not that far, blah blah, completely missing the bloody point that it's not just a location issue, it's that regular parking spaces are just not big enough to open the door wide enough to get out and into a wheelchair. The fact of the matter is the only real cure for ignorance is for people to actually walk (or more to the point, wheel) a mile in our shoes!

[Tinbasher]

The photo is on the back to prevent ner do wells from identifying the cars of disabled women or other "vulnerable" people and lying in wait to target them.

[greybeard]

Scorpio81, on 30 December 2011 - 09:20 PM, said:

Does anyone know exactly what changes they're going to implement and how they'll make it more fraud-proof?

See the link at the bottom of Simon's post.

[A trophy guy]

Apparelyzed, on 30 December 2011 - 11:51 AM, said:

Blue badge parking measures introduced to combat fraud

Measures to crack down on drivers who abuse the disabled parking system will come into force in England and Scotland from 1 January.

There are an estimated 2.5 million blue badges in circulation, allowing drivers to park on yellow lines as well as avoid parking and congestion charges.

But blue badge fraud is estimated to cost the UK £46m a year.

New badges will have added security features and the method to determine people's eligibility is being improved.

It is hoped the redesign will make blue badges harder to forge or alter..

Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "Motorists who pretend to be disabled to get some free parking are frankly disgraceful".

"They prevent real blue badge holders from using parking bays designed for those genuinely in need and they cheat the vast majority of road users who play fair when they park their cars."

Read More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16359850

(bolding mine)

As this seems to be the primary force behind the overhaul (making the badges more "fraud-proof"), I'm assuming that the use of fraudulent blue badges is the leading, or at least a significant, cause of disabled-parking abuse in England?

This is quite different than the abuse here in the US. Here there are two primary types of parking abuse: people fraudulently using someone else's valid handicap parking placard, or people simply just parking fearlessly in the spots illegally with no sort of placard or ID whatsoever.


*there is also the pseudo-abuse of undeserving patients getting scripts for placards written for them by uninvolved, uncaring doctors. But there is nothing technically illegal going on here.

Edited by A trophy guy, 31 December 2011 - 02:09 AM.

[qbounce]

I'm not so sure that fraudulent badges aren't a problem in the US as well. Have you SEEN some of the differences in placards here? Sometimes I wonder, because they DON'T always look the same, and I'm not just talking about the red temporary ones, either.

The truth is, how do we know? We don't get charged for them, so the government isn't losing any money on forged placards. Also, they vary widely from state to state, so I'd hasten to guess it isn't easy to spot a fake.

Maybe it's a HUGE problem and we don't even realize it.

I also heard not long ago how easy they were to get online. Looks like I'll be doing a little sleuthing tonight.

[wheeliebear75]

Here in the U.S. anyone using the disabled plates/placard does get to park in metered zones without paying & in limited time (such as 15 minute parking) zones without the appointed time restrictions.

However we do really have a pretty BIG problem with that here in the U.S.! I lost count years ago of just how many times I've; had to get let out behind somebody else who was using the 2 available spots for that restaurant, or get carried to my wheelchair, or let off in an adjacent parking lot & go across the street to where we were ACTUALLY GOING.

I would LOVE for a review board to go over ALL applications/renewals for the disabled parking privilege! HOWEVER....ONLY...ON ONE CONDITION.....that condition being that the people on this panel have at least SOME background in medicine whether they be OT PT MD or EMT. Although I DO want to nail EVERYONE who is abusing the placards, I do NOT want to do it at the expense of forcing someone who does need it on occasions (but would opt to not use it when it isn't required) such as those who suffer from MS or Fibromyalsia(sp?)...as these people DO need it during times that their disease has flair-ups.

Edited by wheeliebear75, 31 December 2011 - 03:14 AM.

[StillFingers]

If you live in California and would like to help with suspected "blue placard" misuse and/or fraud issues, you can contact your local DMV, you can also help by using the link below, providing them the info required to help them accumulate data (possible violators) to send to the DMV to help track and ticket the "wrongdoers". Other states my have this same type of organization, just look about. As with Apparelyzed, this website/organization has guidelines to follow, who better than us to set an example by reporting not just complaining...take action!

http://www.handicapp...x.php?mod=about

[wheeliebear75]

OK on somewhat of a "funny note":

Went to the website you provided Still-Fingers & what I did NOT KNOW....& what's so "funny" is that the placards being only odd # years....I thought that mine always came on odd years was because I was given a temporary 6/90 then I got a 2nd temporary granted in 12/90 but when April or May of 91 came round they had given up on my being "normal" or no-longer needing the disabled parking just wasn't gonna happen. Soooo....I thought if you got your permanent parking given in an odd # year you got your renewal in 2 yrs making the next also going out in an odd year....BUT if you got yours in an even year than you got it every 2yrs on the even #s.

[Izziwhizzi]

Advances in technology may help in the future. This parking sensor isn't fool proof, but its a start!

http://www.gizmag.co...t-sensor/20966/

[RSUK]

unless there is some sort of "check" by a car park official, traffic warden etc when the car arrives or leaves the disabled space then i cant see how this will imporove things that much. however, if it means less badges are granted and only to those who really need it then i suppose that can only help the situation.

i must admit, when all disabled spaces in use, ive usually been able to find "normal" spaces where i can still fully open the driver door but not always practical i know.

izzi's sensor thing is the type of technology that would at least put people off abusing using the disabled spaces. maybe something like the DART tag system at the Dartford bridge over the thames could be developed.

Rich

[greybeard]

RSUK, on 31 December 2011 - 02:11 PM, said:

unless there is some sort of "check" by a car park official, traffic warden etc when the car arrives or leaves the disabled space then i cant see how this will imporove things that much.

My ultra cynical, but probably true take:

It's not meant "to improve things" for disable drivers. It's all about money - to ensure that the local authorities get their pound of flesh.

The only parking slots that will be checked are the free disabled bays in car parks where everyone else has to pay for the privilege.

It'll make not a scrap of difference in my area because disabled parkers now have to pay full rate in all the surrounding car parks, including all the hospitals. Arseholes.

[catmint]

Personally I think it is irrelevant. The blue badge and before that the orange badge has been so abused over the years that I don't think it will make a scrap of difference. Other than it will cost more.

As GB said all the carparks round here charge badge holders the same extortionate rates for parking. The only 'concession' is that there are some larger bays, supposedly only to be used by badge holders.

Our local hospital which is also a teaching hospital has just abolished free parking for blue badge holders.

[Scorpio81]

catmint, on 01 January 2012 - 08:43 AM, said:

Our local hospital which is also a teaching hospital has just abolished free parking for blue badge holders.

. Something tells me that other hospitals will be following suit with this, greedy barstewards. Hospital car parking is just ridiculously expensive - if you're unlucky enough to have to be parked there for more than 4 hours, it'll set you back £9!

I agree with those of you who've said it probably won't make much difference - just another expensive political exercise that makes the news one day, then forgotten about the next. Or, they'll go too far the other way and start taking badges from people who do actually need them!

[Tetracyclone]

A push is on in Los Angeles:

http://www.latimes.c...478,full.column


It's time for a crackdown on abusers of disabled placards

Los Angeles needs to take tough action, and California should at least require that the drivers get a doctor's signature every two years. Physicians could be more discriminating too.


y Steve Lopez
January 29, 2012

Call them cretins, barbarians — whatever you like. I'm with you. But there are two very good reasons many California drivers abuse disabled placards when they park their vehicles.

First, it saves them a lot of money.

My Wednesday column on the subject has drawn hundreds of responses from readers who have disabilities but struggle to find parking because of all the cheaters, and there were scores of people offering their own evidence of abuse.

"I have seen a woman in four-inch stilettoes park with a placard and run into a gym for exercise," wrote Stuart Schnell of Alhambra.

No doubt, lots of folks are illegally using placards issued to disabled relatives, some of whom may no longer be above ground. Others may have abused the application process, forging signatures, faking conditions or finding a friendly co-conspirator with a medical license.

But to be fair, spotting cheaters can sometimes be tricky.

"Not everyone who has a placard has an illness you can see VISIBLY," wrote a Hawthorne reader who has diabetes and peripheral neuropathy.

Fair enough. But let me ask a question, and I don't mean for it to sound insensitive.

Why should people with placards get free parking? And why should they be exempt from time limits?

As it stands now, all you need is a placard and you can park for free at any meter for as long as you like, even if the posted limit is one hour.

The policy invites abuse, especially in areas like downtown Los Angeles, where metered parking runs as high as $4 an hour and a garage can cost $30 a day. It also cheats merchants of clients who can't find parking spots, robs meter revenue from cities and makes it harder for the rest of us to find parking.

UCLA professor Donald Shoup said a study of a single downtown L.A. street found a loss of $477 to the city — in just one day — because 81% of the spaces were occupied by cars with placards.

Ever since reader Cris Lombardi pointed out to me that placards are like confetti on Bunker Hill, I've been noticing blocks where every vehicle has one. On Thursday morning, 12 of the 14 spaces near the Museum of Contemporary Art had disabled placards, yet I didn't see any driver exit a vehicle with crutches, a cane or wheelchair.

One healthy-looking woman told me she'd had her placard since a motorcycle accident "six or seven years ago." Two women told me to mind my own business. Another one, I'd say about 30 years old, told me she was born with a back problem.

"I'm blanking on it right now," she said when I asked about the condition. It begins with an "S," she said.

Scoliosis?

"Yes, that's it."

She then walked — quite briskly — to the county courthouse, two blocks away, where she works as a clerk. If she's got a bad back, wouldn't it make more sense to park in the lot at the courthouse? It would if this was really about her back. But I'm guessing it's more about free parking.

One reason there's so much abuse is that the California Department of Motor Vehicles automatically reissues the blue, permanent placards every two years whether a driver asks for renewal or not. (A temporary one, which is red, has to be renewed every six months). The permanent ones really are permanent. No need to see a doctor ever again to recertify the need. Last year, the DMV sent out 2.1 million placards. In Los Angeles, there are about six times as many residents with placards as there are parking meters.

At the very least, shouldn't drivers have to get a doctor's signature every two years?

"Disabled placards should not be an automatic lifetime benefit," said David Marsh, an attorney and neighbor of mine who's disabled.

And doctors could certainly be more discriminating. Jerome Greenberg, an internist at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, said he frequently turns down patients whose conditions call for more exercise, not less. "If you're overweight," he said, "the farther away you park, the better."

Although placards are issued and controlled by the DMV, local officials don't have to sit on their hands while scammers operate right under their noses.

In San Francisco, city transit officials confiscated 680 placards two years ago in a crackdown on abuse. L.A.'s Department of Transportation, meanwhile, wrote 11 citations last year for placard abuse. And while San Francisco officials are now planning a push for statewide reforms that give cities more control, L.A. transportation chief Jaime de la Vega said his department is "tracking different cities" to see what they're up to.

Is it too much to ask that L.A. lead the way rather than wait for someone else to figure it out?

When I called the Sacramento office of state Sen. Kevin De Leon, who represents downtown L.A., his staff checked to see if their district office had fielded complaints on the matter. It hadn't, but the downtown staffers themselves had gripes about how so many cars with placards tie up spaces all day.

On Friday, De Leon's staff said he plans to introduce legislation that would end automatic renewals of permanent placards and require medical certification.

That's a start, but it comes up short.

There needs to be a crackdown on medical professionals who are easy touches for placards. And even a legitimate placard shouldn't entitle someone to park for free all day.

The point wouldn't be to punish the genuinely disabled. I'd be for using some of the additional meter revenue to make life easier for them by fixing cracked sidewalks, improving cutaways and creating a space or two on every block for exclusive use by disabled drivers.

And the minimum fine of $250 for placard abuse ought to be tripled, and second-time offenders should have their cars impounded.

Third-time offenders? I'm open to public flogging.

Edited by Tetracyclone, 29 January 2012 - 05:08 PM.

[Tinbasher]

Just a fact check really but at £10.00 this is about one fith of the actual cost of issuing the badge. They cost councils between £40.00 and £60 to administer and issue.

In my time with the council I could never really get them to understand that blue badge parking is not just about the number of disabled people. New parking restrictions, pedestrianisation all sorts of other things cause an increase in the number of people applying for and abuse of the scheme.

Tom

[Ironside]

I don't think it will make that much difference. The problem is with the doctors who hand out blue badges to people who don't need them. People should be vetted on whether or not they need to use aspecial parking space. If they can walk okay, get out of your car perfectly okay then you don't need special parking, whether you've got something wrong with you or not.

Edited by Ironside, 30 January 2012 - 05:35 PM.

[greybeard]

Ironside, on 30 January 2012 - 05:31 PM, said:

I don't think it will make that much difference. The problem is with the doctors who hand out blue badges to people who don't need them. People should be vetted on whether or not they need to use aspecial parking space. If they can walk okay, get out of your car perfectly okay then you don't need special parking, whether you've got something wrong with you or not.

As I understand it, under the new scheme it will not be doctors who sign off applications for blue badges, but outside assessors.

[Ironside]

greybeard, on 30 January 2012 - 10:11 PM, said:

Ironside, on 30 January 2012 - 05:31 PM, said:

I don't think it will make that much difference. The problem is with the doctors who hand out blue badges to people who don't need them. People should be vetted on whether or not they need to use aspecial parking space. If they can walk okay, get out of your car perfectly okay then you don't need special parking, whether you've got something wrong with you or not.

As I understand it, under the new scheme it will not be doctors who sign off applications for blue badges, but outside assessors.

Well I hope that they are tough and have their heads screwed on properly. It should be obvious to anyone that if somebody walks into the office without any obvious signs of disability then they do not need special parking. I'm not even sure why heart patients get given blue badges, if they are not well enough to walk 50 yards from a normal parking space then surely they are not well enough to drive a vehicle by themselves? Disabled parking spaces should be reserved only for people who have problems with mobility and may need extra space when getting in and out of the car. I try and park when I can in a normal parking space when I go to the supermarket because I have rear access on my vehicle, I don't need the extra space either side. The only time I use the disabled parking is there aren't any suitable parking spaces, or if it's pouring down with rain.

[Trinity]

Ironside, on 31 January 2012 - 07:24 PM, said:

I'm not even sure why heart patients get given blue badges, if they are not well enough to walk 50 yards from a normal parking space then surely they are not well enough to drive a vehicle by themselves? Disabled parking spaces should be reserved only for people who have problems with mobility and may need extra space when getting in and out of the car.

You don't have to be the driver to have a blue badge, I don't drive, I don't own a car does that mean I shouldn't have a blue badge?

Just because a disability isn't visible it doesn't mean it does not severely impact a person't life. Heart failure can cause severe breathlessness as well as a whole host of other symptoms, the same with lung disease. Should these people have what little of their independence taken away from them just because they can still walk a short distance and are not in a wheelchair? Yes disabled spaces are designed with w/c users in mind but only as it has to be one space "fits all"

IMO if someone is eligible for high rate mobility DLA (and we all know that the conditions to be able to get that are pretty tight) then they should automatically be entitled to a blue badge. In the over 65's who are not entitled to DLA then the entitlement should be decided on the same strict and rigorous formula used

[A trophy guy]

Ironside, on 31 January 2012 - 07:24 PM, said:

greybeard, on 30 January 2012 - 10:11 PM, said:

Ironside, on 30 January 2012 - 05:31 PM, said:

I don't think it will make that much difference. The problem is with the doctors who hand out blue badges to people who don't need them. People should be vetted on whether or not they need to use aspecial parking space. If they can walk okay, get out of your car perfectly okay then you don't need special parking, whether you've got something wrong with you or not.

As I understand it, under the new scheme it will not be doctors who sign off applications for blue badges, but outside assessors.

I'm not even sure why heart patients get given blue badges, if they are not well enough to walk 50 yards from a normal parking space then surely they are not well enough to drive a vehicle by themselves? Disabled parking spaces should be reserved only for people who have problems with mobility and may need extra space when getting in and out of the car.

So what you are saying is if someone isn't capable of walking long distances, they shouldn't be allowed to leave their house and visit any sort of establishment at all? What about doctors appointments for those heart patients (just an obvious example)? How are they supposed to get there; magic carpet ride??

[Ironside]

Trinity, on 31 January 2012 - 09:32 PM, said:

Ironside, on 31 January 2012 - 07:24 PM, said:

I'm not even sure why heart patients get given blue badges, if they are not well enough to walk 50 yards from a normal parking space then surely they are not well enough to drive a vehicle by themselves? Disabled parking spaces should be reserved only for people who have problems with mobility and may need extra space when getting in and out of the car.

You don't have to be the driver to have a blue badge, I don't drive, I don't own a car does that mean I shouldn't have a blue badge?

Just because a disability isn't visible it doesn't mean it does not severely impact a person't life. Heart failure can cause severe breathlessness as well as a whole host of other symptoms, the same with lung disease. Should these people have what little of their independence taken away from them just because they can still walk a short distance and are not in a wheelchair? Yes disabled spaces are designed with w/c users in mind but only as it has to be one space "fits all"

IMO if someone is eligible for high rate mobility DLA (and we all know that the conditions to be able to get that are pretty tight) then they should automatically be entitled to a blue badge. In the over 65's who are not entitled to DLA then the entitlement should be decided on the same strict and rigorous formula used

Even people who have got illnesses take advantage of disabled parking. Okay, you may have something wrong with you, but surely if you can walk perfectly okay, get out of your car like any other person then why do you need disabled parking? Special parking should be only for people who have mobility problems. I'm sorry, but even people with heart conditions don't need disabled parking. If they are not capable of walking across a car park then they certainly should not be behind the wheel of a car. And as for disabled people who are passengers, they should only use disabled parking if their driver is accompanying them into the shop. The amount of times I go to the supermarket and there's some guy sitting in his car reading the paper in a disabled parking spot when he doesn't need to be there, what's wrong with dropping the person off and then parking in a normal parking space? People are too damn lazy these days, they've got absolutely no thought for people who really need these spaces. After all, there's probably 1000 parking spaces at our local Sainsbury's, this probably no more than about 12 disabled parking spaces.

[Trinity]

Ironside, on 01 February 2012 - 04:36 PM, said:

If they are not capable of walking across a car park then they certainly should not be behind the wheel of a car.

Why ever not???

[Ironside]

Trinity, on 01 February 2012 - 04:51 PM, said:

Ironside, on 01 February 2012 - 04:36 PM, said:

If they are not capable of walking across a car park then they certainly should not be behind the wheel of a car.

Why ever not???

If somebody has got a heart condition that stops you walking a few yards then I certainly wouldn't want to be a passenger with them. people who have had heart attacks, or have got heart problems are encouraged to exercise gently, so it only goes to say that a gentle stroll across a car park is good for you. If you must park close to the supermarket then find a normal parking space that is close to the supermarket, there are lots of disabled parking spaces at my supermarket that are further away than normal parking spaces

Edited by Ironside, 01 February 2012 - 05:02 PM.

[Trinity]

Ironside, on 01 February 2012 - 05:00 PM, said:

Trinity, on 01 February 2012 - 04:51 PM, said:

Ironside, on 01 February 2012 - 04:36 PM, said:

If they are not capable of walking across a car park then they certainly should not be behind the wheel of a car.

Why ever not???

If somebody has got a heart condition that stops you walking a few yards then I certainly wouldn't want to be a passenger with them. people who have had heart attacks, or have got heart problems are encouraged to exercise gently, so it only goes to say that a gentle stroll across a car park is good for you. If you must park close to the supermarket then find a normal parking space that is close to the supermarket, there are lots of disabled parking spaces at my supermarket that are further away than normal parking spaces

People could say the same about being a passenger in a car with someone who hasn't got full use of their upper limbs, unless you actually know a lot about the particular condition then people have a very warped view about what it entails.


Plus we are not talking about only supermarkets, most supermarkets don't even police their blue badge spaces (I am sure they would make a fortune on fines if they did but I guess it's not good for business) How about town centres that may only have central parking for blue badge holders, people with limited mobility (yes that includes people with heart and lung conditions) who may not be able to walk 400m to get to the bank or the post office, in shopping centres the disabled parking tends to be on the same level as shop mobility which means people can get from their car to their beautiful raspberry chariot with minimal fuss and effort. People with hidden disabilities shouldn't be discriminated against. The lazy and unwilling however should! Anyway, it's not like Blue Badges are given away like sweets, the conditions are quite tough. The main abusers seem to be people who have "borrowed" a badge or have forged or stolen a badge, I don't think the new measures will stop the former but will hopefully make the latter harder.

[Ironside]

Trinity, on 01 February 2012 - 06:00 PM, said:

Ironside, on 01 February 2012 - 05:00 PM, said:

Trinity, on 01 February 2012 - 04:51 PM, said:

Ironside, on 01 February 2012 - 04:36 PM, said:

If they are not capable of walking across a car park then they certainly should not be behind the wheel of a car.

Why ever not???

If somebody has got a heart condition that stops you walking a few yards then I certainly wouldn't want to be a passenger with them. people who have had heart attacks, or have got heart problems are encouraged to exercise gently, so it only goes to say that a gentle stroll across a car park is good for you. If you must park close to the supermarket then find a normal parking space that is close to the supermarket, there are lots of disabled parking spaces at my supermarket that are further away than normal parking spaces

People could say the same about being a passenger in a car with someone who hasn't got full use of their upper limbs, unless you actually know a lot about the particular condition then people have a very warped view about what it entails.


Plus we are not talking about only supermarkets, most supermarkets don't even police their blue badge spaces (I am sure they would make a fortune on fines if they did but I guess it's not good for business) How about town centres that may only have central parking for blue badge holders, people with limited mobility (yes that includes people with heart and lung conditions) who may not be able to walk 400m to get to the bank or the post office, in shopping centres the disabled parking tends to be on the same level as shop mobility which means people can get from their car to their beautiful raspberry chariot with minimal fuss and effort. People with hidden disabilities shouldn't be discriminated against. The lazy and unwilling however should! Anyway, it's not like Blue Badges are given away like sweets, the conditions are quite tough. The main abusers seem to be people who have "borrowed" a badge or have forged or stolen a badge, I don't think the new measures will stop the former but will hopefully make the latter harder.

To be quite honest, I think it would make very little difference if we are talking about public car parks. Okay, most of the time the disabled parking bays are placed near entrances/exits to the car park, however it really doesn't make any difference because unless the bank or where ever you are going is right next to the car park, you've still got to walk as far as anyone else. I think we just going to have to grin and bear it and accept that misuse of disabled parking bays is going to carry on whatever anyone does or says. And you're right about the supermarkets, they've now put signs up at Sainsbury's warning people that they will get fined if they misuse disabled parking bays, you ever seen people enforcing these notices? Of course not. On more than one occasion I had reported a car for being part where it shouldn't be, nothing is ever done, nobody bothers going out, they just can't be bothered in the supermarket.

[HiltonP]

In my opinion the real problem lies at the beginning of the chain rather than at the end, namely with those people who are issuing permits. There are far too many people who have legal permits, but in reality should never have been granted them. Doctors and those issuing permits are doing so because they feel sorry for the people, or because they don't understand the rationale behind the parking system.

The system was never intended to provide free parking, nor was it ever intended to provide close proximity to one's destination. The primary requirement of the disabled parking bays was to provide a wider than normal bay to allow those who cannot exist or enter a vehicle within the dimensions of the standard bay. Unfortunately this has become bastardised over time, and now one has people being granted permits for illness rather than disability.

[Tinbasher]

You know it took 50 years for paraplegics to get over the "cant walk? Can't drive" prejudice.

All sorts of people need and make proper use of blue badges not just wheelers.