A six-month pilot scheme is operating to catch any motorist taking up a parking space reserved for genuine disabled drivers while illegally displaying a disabled parking permit in their windscreen.
The trial scheme has been started by Enfield Council in partnership with operating company Blue Badge Fraud Investigations, which checks permits to verify if they are being misused.
“This is to protect those who genuinely need parking spaces,” Enfield Council’s cabinet member for transport Cllr Rick Jewell said. “We are sending a clear message that anyone misusing blue badges will be caught and face consequences.
“Abusing blue badges is not a victimless crime — it harms genuine badge holders who rely on accessible parking.”
Disabled drivers can apply for blue badges, which allow them to park closer to their destination.
But some badges have been stolen or are being used fraudulently by others to dodge parking charges, investigators have found.
One badge reported lost was being displayed in the windscreen of another vehicle, they discovered.
Another being displayed had belonged to a disabled driver who had since died, it has emerged.
Two cases involved permits being used without the registered badge-holder or when the owner was not present at the time.
Using an expired, cancelled, stolen, faked or altered badge is a criminal offence. It is also illegal for a registered badge holder to give their permit to someone else when they’re not with the vehicle.
Blue Badge Fraud Investigations founder Paul Slowey said: “We are targeting hotspots and have found several cases of abuse in just the first few days. The blue badge scheme exists to help disabled people who genuinely need it.”
Vehicles found to be displaying fraudulent or misused badges are technically breaching parking restrictions and are now getting slapped with Penalty Charge notices — with a risk of being taken to the council’s car pound at Crown Road in Southbury. Anyone found misusing a badge could also end up in court and fined up to £1,000.
