Measures to tackle abuse of the Blue Badge Scheme

Powers exist under current legislation to enable local authorities to tackle such abuse. There are powers under The Disabled Persons (Badges for Motor Vehicles) (England) Regulations 2000 for local authorities to withdraw a badge if the holder consistently misuses it or allows it to be misused by others. Similarly, authorities have the powers to withdraw the badge if the holder ceases to be eligible, for example because their impairment has improved or because they obtained the badge by false representation.

Misuse of the badge itself by a non-disabled person is an offence under Section 117 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as amended by Section 35(6) of the Road Traffic Act 1991. The maximum fine on conviction is £1,000 and this applies in addition to whatever penalty may be imposed for the associated parking offence. It is also an offence under Section 21 (4B) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, as introduced by Section 35(4) of the Road Traffic Act 1991, to drive a motor vehicle displaying a badge unless the badge is properly issued and displayed. This measure was introduced to counter the problems where the badge was not being removed from the vehicle and people other than the badge holder were taking advantage of the parking concessions available under the Scheme.

It is also an offence under Section 47 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to park a vehicle which is not displaying a badge in a designated disabled persons' parking bay.

The police and traffic wardens do take action in appropriate cases but inevitably the many competing demands on resources limit the manpower that can be directed to enforcing parking restrictions, including those relating to the badge Scheme. There can be no guarantee that there will always be someone available on the spot to take action against every instance of abuse. Nevertheless, it is open to anyone to bring a case of suspected misuse to the attention of the local police or traffic wardens.

Furthermore, if someone sees a person appearing to misuse a badge, they could contact the local authority responsible for issuing the badge. As well as describing the nature of the misuse, they would need to supply any other details that may be visible, such as the expiry date and serial number. This would enable the local authority to record the incident or perhaps write to the badge holder in question warning them of the penalties for misuse.