More than 60 people prosecuted for falsely using blue badges

MORE than 60 people have now been successfully prosecuted for using someone else’s blue badge to park for free in Sheffield – with fines totally around £30,000.

In the latest three prosecutions, a further 15 people have been fined £5,575 – an average of more than £450 per fine.

The blue badge is confiscated upon successful prosecution with no guarantee that it can be re-applied for, meaning that the badge holder and potentially their families are left out of pocket and inconvenienced by the actions.

Councillor Jack Scott, Cabinet Member for Transport and Development at Sheffield City Council, said: “Using a blue badge in this way is an abhorrent way to secure free parking, no matter what the excuse. People who wrongly use these spaces are denying people with a genuine need the opportunity to do so.

“These prosecutions don’t just end with a fine but with the confiscation of a badge as well – which has been genuinely awarded in the first place. So, my message is – don’t be tempted to use a relative or friends’ badge no matter what the circumstances. You will be fined and your friend or relative will lose the advantages that come with having a badge.

“The improper use of blue badges has a major impact on people who actually do have disabilities, causing parking problems and discrediting the whole scheme.“Nobody else can use the blue badge unless they are travelling with the owner. My team won’t hesitate to continue confiscating blue badge passes where they are abused.”

In the cases the council has prosecuted so far, more than 98 per cent of the blue badges have been withdrawn.

There’s a full list of blue badge regulations available at www.sheffield. gov.uk/home/parking/ blue-badge or by calling 0114 2734567.

There are currently more than 24,000 blue badges in circulation within Sheffield – 225 of these belong to organisations and the remainder are individual badges.