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Original poster

Blue badge parking

61 replies

AndSoFinally · 30/05/2022 16:46

Just taken my mum to the pharmacy to collect my dads end of life care medications. We parked in the disabled bay (she has a blue badge) but in the end she couldn't face going in to collect them so I did, and left her in the car. It didn't occur to me to move since she wasn't getting out.

Came out to find a random man taking photos of my car (and presumably my mum!). I'm assuming he's going to report me for parking in the disabled space.

I don't know if this a thing? Who will he report me to? Are they accepting photos from random members of the public as proof of parking infractions, with no other evidence? He definitely wasn't a traffic warden and there wasn't a ticket on the car.

If he reports me, what do I do? Just send a photo of my mums blue badge? Could really do without this at the moment 😢

OP posts:
beachcitygirl · 30/05/2022 16:48

Ignore it. What a twat he is. IF you feel up to it phone the blue badge dept of your local council & tell them the situation.
Nothing will happen to you. Your mum was there - fuck him.

forlornlorna1 · 30/05/2022 16:52

What a knob he was. As long as your mom was in the car it's fine. Honestly some people have nothing better to do

My dd is autistic and sometimes won't get out the car, so if I park in the disabled bay close to the shop I can run in and she can still see me and feel safe and vice versa.

How did the nosey bastard not know your mom was going to get out and join you?

Honestly I wouldn't let it worry you x

hugoagogo · 30/05/2022 16:57

Yeah just it ignore it, the blue badge applies to whatever vehicle your mum is driving in.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Driving & parking
Original poster
AndSoFinally · 30/05/2022 16:58

Thank you both, that's put my mind at ease.

OP posts:
hugoagogo · 30/05/2022 16:58

Or being driven in.

TheHomeContact · 30/05/2022 17:00

When I first had mine, there was something about it not being valid for someone else where the badge owner was staying in the car.

I don't know if it's changed now.

But whether it has or not, I don't think it was wrong. Sometimes I've not felt up to going inside either and my partner or daughter have instead.

Would have upset me if someone was taking photos.

HedyPrism · 30/05/2022 17:08

"You should not use the badge to allow non-disabled people to take advantage of the benefits while you sit in the car."

Blue badge page

You need to park elsewhere if she's not leaving the car.

Sounds like life is tough at the moment and noone should be taking unauthorised photos. Hopefully it will come to nothing.

emaline83 · 30/05/2022 17:10

First of all,he's a complete twat and needs to mind his own business.

However, DD very recently got her first blue badge so I read all the small print. It is not valid to use it if the holder isn't physically getting in or out of the car where it's parked.

I would like to think even if this were a genuine traffic warden they would see the badge and take into account your circumstances if a fine were issued. Sorry to hear about this when you have such a sad situation. I've actually only used DDs once so far as so paranoid about this sort of thing in our very busy town.

Original poster
AndSoFinally · 30/05/2022 17:26

Hopefully the photos won't have been clear enough to be sure who was still in the car. I will know for next time though. She definitely intended to get out, just couldn't face it at the last minute.

OP posts:
6demandingchildren · 30/05/2022 17:26

Probably be going to post it's on a Facebook group as he is the Facebook police.
My daughter-in-laws father is the person in our country that deals with these matters and this would be of no interest to them as it's a real badge and the person who is belonged to was in the car, as well will is to say she didn't get out of the car at a later time.
You have enough to cope with right now so don't let this get in your way x

ScootsMcHoy · 30/05/2022 17:27

It doesn't matter, he's a dick.

I'm sorry about your dad. Flowers

Spikeyball · 30/05/2022 17:35

He would have had no way of knowing who owns the blue badge without looking closely at it. Badges are not linked to cars. Photos of the car mean nothing. I doubt anyone official would be interested.

BlueThursday · 30/05/2022 17:36

Don’t give it any head space; you’ve far more to think of right now 💐

jaffacakesareepic · 30/05/2022 17:44

Unless he got really close to the car to work out whose the badge was hes jumping to some right conclusions to assume it must be the older persons badge

Dont worry about it, if it came down to it you could always say your mum planned on following you in in a moment but the photo takers behaviour intimidated her so she felt too vulnerable to leave the car....

ThatsRoughBuddy · 30/05/2022 17:47

For all he knew your mum could have been into the shop and back out before you making it totally valid to park there!

AuntMargo · 30/05/2022 17:52

..........but on the other hand if he had a disabled passenger and couldn't get parked therefore missing that disabled persons appointment or getting their vital medication.

EverythingsPeachy · 30/05/2022 17:55

There's always one complete jobs worth. If they contact you explain your poor mum was overwhelmed with everything going on at the moment and made the last minute decision to stay in the car because she was very upset. For all this idiot taking pictures knows you could have just picked your mum up and she forgot something and you being quicker ran back to grab it. I know you are not feeling great at the moment but I would have taken great pleasure in taking pictures of this man taking pictures of me and told him to feck off before you report him for harassment. Honestly don't let this worry you x

HappilyHadesBound · 30/05/2022 17:58

AuntMargo · 30/05/2022 17:52

..........but on the other hand if he had a disabled passenger and couldn't get parked therefore missing that disabled persons appointment or getting their vital medication.

This... ⬆️

Unfortunately you were in the wrong to use the badge the way you did so a ticket would be valid. It is likely he's just a judgemental idiot, but it is entirely possible that he had a genuine need like AuntMargo suggests.

Shmithecat2 · 30/05/2022 17:59

If it's privately owned land and monitored by a private parking company, you might well receive a ticket.

Spikeyball · 30/05/2022 18:03

"........but on the other hand if he had a disabled passenger and couldn't get parked therefore missing that disabled persons appointment or getting their vital medication."

If he was actually a carer he wouldn't be dicking around like that.

DiscoBadgers · 30/05/2022 18:04

The photo ID is on the underside of the badge so there’s no way for him to know based on the badge whose it is.

ignore him!

ours is for DS, who has SEN, and I asked the council parking dept if there are circumstances where I can use it without him eg if I’m driving somewhere to pick him up so I don’t have him in the car with me but will need the car accessible for when we return as then I’ll have DS, and they said that I’m best placed to know my child and his disability and it’s supposed to make life easier for disabled people and their carers. So I would apply that to your mum in this case too.

longtompot · 30/05/2022 18:05

Sadly, if your mum is the badge holder and she didn't (understandably) feel up to getting out of the car, then the badge rules do say you should move your car to another parking space not for badge holders. The guy was being very insensitive taking the photos, and I really hope they come to nothing, but I wouldn't want to give you false hope there might not be a follow up to it. I wonder if they have allowances for extenuating circumstances? I do hope so. I am sorry about your dad Flowers

Spikeyball · 30/05/2022 18:06

"If it's privately owned land and monitored by a private parking company, you might well receive a ticket."

A photo of someone sat in car in a blue badge space shows evidence of what?

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 30/05/2022 18:07

TheHomeContact · 30/05/2022 17:00

When I first had mine, there was something about it not being valid for someone else where the badge owner was staying in the car.

I don't know if it's changed now.

But whether it has or not, I don't think it was wrong. Sometimes I've not felt up to going inside either and my partner or daughter have instead.

Would have upset me if someone was taking photos.

I think technically you aren't meant to use it like that but I doubt very much it'll come to anything if a random bloke reports it. You could always say your mum had a funny turn just as she was getting out and you had to run and ask the pharmacist for advice. A white lie in this situation won't hurt!

Brahumbug · 30/05/2022 18:26

HedyPrism · 30/05/2022 17:08

"You should not use the badge to allow non-disabled people to take advantage of the benefits while you sit in the car."

Blue badge page

You need to park elsewhere if she's not leaving the car.

Sounds like life is tough at the moment and noone should be taking unauthorised photos. Hopefully it will come to nothing.

There are no such things as 'authorised photo's, anyone can photo anything they wish in public.