Blue Badge holders in England could lose their parking permit if they allow friends or family members to use it improperly, according to official government guidance.
The Department for Transport (DfT) explained that one of the most common forms of Blue Badge misuse involves relatives or friends using a disabled person's permit when the badge holder is not part of the journey.
Guidance on GOV.UK states that using someone else's badge without the holder being present in the vehicle at some point during the trip is considered misuse. It also warns against lending a badge to a friend or relative, using an expired permit, altering badge details, or using a copied or fake badge.
Enforcement actions councils can take
The online guidance explains that local authorities can take a range of enforcement actions depending on the circumstances.
These include issuing Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) for parking contraventions, prosecuting offenders and, in some cases, seizing Blue Badges being used incorrectly.
People found guilty of certain offences involving Blue Badge misuse can face fines of up to £1,000. More serious cases involving fraud can result in higher penalties.
Officer powers and badge inspection
The guidance also gives enforcement officers powers to inspect Blue Badges and check whether the person using the permit is entitled to do so.
Officers can ask to see the badge and verify details, including the photograph of the badge holder. Anyone who fails to produce a badge when required without a reasonable excuse may be committing an offence and could face a fine of up to £1,000.
Since changes introduced in 2013, enforcement officers can also retain a Blue Badge without police involvement if they have reasonable grounds to believe it is being misused, has been cancelled, should have been returned to the issuing authority, or is fake.
Impact of misuse
The DfT said misuse of the scheme can make it harder for genuine badge holders to find accessible parking spaces and undermines the purpose of the Blue Badge programme.
Examples of misuse highlighted in the guidance include: letting a friend or relative use a Blue Badge; using a badge that has expired; using a badge that has been reported lost or stolen; using a copied or fake badge; altering details such as the expiry date; using a badge belonging to someone who has died; and making a fraudulent application for a badge.
The guidance also states that councils across England should work to prevent abuse and ensure that Blue Badge parking spaces remain available for the people who genuinely need them.
Places you cannot park with a Blue Badge
The guidance on MYGOV.SCOT states: “Having a Blue Badge does not mean you can park anywhere.”
You cannot park: in loading bays unless nearby signs specify time limits for badge holders; where there are one or two yellow markings on the kerb - unless nearby signs say badge holders are allowed to park at that time; in parking places reserved for specific users such as residents or taxis; on pedestrian crossings and zigzag lines; at clearways (no stopping); at bus stops; on urban clearways within their hours of operation; on double or single red lines during their hours of operation; at school 'keep clear' markings during the hours shown; on a yellow no-stopping plate; in bus, tram or cycle lanes; where there are double white lines in the centre of the road, even if one of the lines is broken; at suspended meter bays or when use of the meter is not allowed; and where there are temporary parking restrictions, like roadworks or no-waiting cones.
Transport Scotland issues a full guide to using your Blue Badge north of the border when you receive the parking permit for the first time or renew it. The guidance on MYGOV.SCOT has the latest updates and can be viewed online.
