Drivers heading to busy retail parks, supermarkets and seaside towns this summer are being warned that misusing disabled parking bays could result in fines of up to £1,000. New figures reveal more than 100,000 Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were issued in the 2024/25 financial year for vehicles parked in disabled bays without permission or for Blue Badge misuse.
The data, compiled by Mobility Solutions Direct from Freedom of Information requests to councils across the UK, shows Swansea Council recorded the highest rate of disabled parking penalties outside London, handing out 4,683 fines. Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council followed with 2,867 penalties, while Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council issued 5,694. In London, Waltham Forest was the capital's biggest hotspot, issuing 6,852 PCNs.
Lee Cartwright of Mobility Solutions Direct said the issue tends to spike during summer when car parks become more crowded. 'When people can't find a space close to the shops, there's always the temptation to pull into a disabled bay and think 'I'll only be a minute'. But for somebody with mobility issues, that space isn't a convenience, it's essential.'
He added that disabled bays are often one of the first things abused when shopping areas become busier. 'You see it every summer. Garden centres are packed, retail parks are full, families are heading out for the day, and suddenly accessible spaces start disappearing to people who shouldn't be using them.'
Parking in a disabled bay without a valid Blue Badge can result in penalties of around £70. More serious offences, including deliberately using somebody else's badge, can lead to prosecution, badge confiscation and fines of up to £1,000.
