Millions of Blue Badge holders risk £1,000 fine | Tech News
One in 15 adults now has a blue badge (Image: Getty)
As councils throughout the nation step up enforcement, drivers with a Blue Badge are being urged to remember of the “hidden” parking guidelines that might land them with a hefty fine. Many people who’ve held their badge for years are nonetheless being caught out by rules they don’t know exist.
The most up-to-date information from the Department for Transport reveals that over three million Blue Badges at the moment are held in England, an increase of 228,000 year-on-year, making it more important than ever for holders to make use of them appropriately. Daniel Swain, a second-hand mobility scooter skilled from Seacroft Mobility, has highlighted some of essentially the most common errors.
READ MORE: Blue Badge prosecutions as incapacity parking permits hit file high
READ MORE: Blue Badge errors that might get a hefty £1k fine
A Blue Badge prices up to £10 in England and £20 in Scotland (Image: Getty)
A badge is for the holder solely
Mr Swain mentioned that you may solely show your Blue Badge if the individual it was issued to is within the car, both as a driver or a passenger. He warned: “It’s a criminal offence to lend it to a family member or friend to do an errand for you.”
GOV.UK’s Blue Badge scheme: rights and obligations in England web page states: “You must use the Blue Badge properly. The badge and its concessions are for your use only.
“It is a felony offence for you or anybody else to misuse the badge. Doing so might result in a £1,000 fine and confiscation of the badge. Making sure that the scheme isn’t abused will benefit real badge holders, similar to your self.
“If you are using the parking concessions as a passenger, it is your responsibility to make sure that the driver is aware of all the rules set out in this guidance.
“You mustn’t ever give the badge to associates or household to permit them to have the benefit of the parking concessions. You mustn’t ever use a copied badge to park or attempt to change the main points on a badge. The badge stays the property of the issuing native council. They can ask for the badge to be returned whether it is being misused.”
Don’t assume free parking
A Blue Badge would not all the time guarantee free parking in a personal car park, like at a grocery store or hospital. You should all the time learn the indicators there, as you may nonetheless should pay or register your car.
Even when you can park on a yellow line, there’s usually a time limit of three hours. If you don’t display your parking clock showing your arrival time, you can be fined.
Daniel Swain mentioned: “It’s a actually common downside. Most people suppose their Blue Badge is a licence to park wherever at no cost, however that is simply not the case.
“Different councils, and even different car parks, have their own rules. A simple mistake could cost you hundreds in fines or, in the worst cases, result in your badge being taken away.”
The Blue Badge scheme is run by native councils, and it is best to all the time contact them first for particular data concerning parking guidelines in your space, GOV.UK explains. You can usually park at no cost and with out time limits at on-street parking meters, pay-and-display machines, and disabled parking bays until native signage signifies a particular restrict. Blue Badge holders should show the Blue Badge.
Blue Badge holders are prohibited from parking on pedestrian crossings, clearways, bus lanes, or the place there are loading bans marked by yellow kerb dashes. Special restrictions apply in sure elements of central London, together with Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea, and the City of London, the place the usual national concessions don’t totally apply. While badge holders can register for a 100% low cost on the London Congestion Charge, they have to full a registration course of and pay a small charge first.
The badge offers you sure concessions like parking on yellow strains for up to 3 hours or utilizing disabled bays, however native restrictions, personal car park guidelines, and time limits nonetheless apply. You should all the time learn the indicators at your parking location as a result of the foundations can fluctuate by avenue, council, or car park. Misreading or ignoring them can nonetheless result in fines, even when you show your Blue Badge appropriately.
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