Blue badge abuse clampdown ahead of legislation change

The blue badge scheme provides an essential service for disabled people by allowing access to parking bays which are normally closer to work, shops and other community services.

This parking access often makes the difference as to whether people with mobility problems can live their lives as fully as they can.

The Scottish government said it hopes that by providing these additional powers to confiscate badges and cancel lost or stolen badges, people will think twice before misusing them.

Transport secretary Derek Mackay (pictured) said: “Blue badge misuse is socially unacceptable as it prevents the 228,000 legitimate badge holders across Scotland from accessing the on-street parking concessions to which they are entitled.

“Granting extra powers for local authorities to tackle blue badge misuse and confiscate badges that are not valid or are being used illegally by a third party for their own benefit will allow disabled badge holders to access services in the community and lead independent lives.”

Research conducted by Transport Scotland in 2012 showed that 76 per cent of BB holders would go out less often if they were without their badge.

Many also felt they wouldn’t be able to go out at all.

Dennis Robertson, MSP who was responsible for taking the legislation forward, said: “We need this legislation because people think that third party misuse of a blue badge is okay; although it is not. We as a society should not tolerate that.

“When someone misuses a blue badge they do not just take a parking space they deny a parking space to someone with a disability.

“When that person is denied a parking space they have to return home and might not be able to do what they went into town for.

“People need to understand that by using someone else’s blue badge they are not just taking a parking space they are taking a parking space from a disabled person who is entitled to it.”

Abuse of the scheme reduces the number of on street disabled parking bays and on-street parking spaces available for use by genuine blue badges holders.

Local authorities are keen to stamp out the misuse with parking enforcement officers constantly dealing with possible cases of misuse.

Glasgow’s most common excuses given by those misusing the blue badge are:

For more information on blue badges and the rules and regulations around their use, please visi twww.bluebadgescotland.org/