Using a disabled badge illegally

Hohofortherobbers · 19/01/2025 09:28

You didn't use it intentionally illegally, you expected to be driving the badge holder. There won't be a problem but will be easily solved by your honest explanation if there was

user1471505356 · 19/01/2025 09:29

No you will be OK.

DazedAndConfused321 · 19/01/2025 09:38

It really depends on your councils rules. I wouldn't be able to do that in my council area because you're basically using it before the holder is in the car. Unless there's cameras or a warden around I doubt anyone would know

thesaskedminger · 19/01/2025 09:52

Hohofortherobbers · 19/01/2025 09:28

You didn't use it intentionally illegally, you expected to be driving the badge holder. There won't be a problem but will be easily solved by your honest explanation if there was

OP is unlikely to get caught, but if she does an explanation like this isn't going to help. These are the tales people tell every day of the week when seen using the badge incorrectly. The vast majority are ignored and the badge removed.

Original poster

Funkyslippers · 19/01/2025 09:55

DazedAndConfused321 · 19/01/2025 09:38

It really depends on your councils rules. I wouldn't be able to do that in my council area because you're basically using it before the holder is in the car. Unless there's cameras or a warden around I doubt anyone would know

How would a warden know out of interest?

OP posts:

Lindy2 · 19/01/2025 10:03

I think your explanation is reasonable and I doubt your parking was even noticed.

It would be your friend at risk of loosing her blue badge if she's deemed to have been using it inappropriately by handing it to others. It will be for her to explain why she gave it to you.

Assuming this is a 1 off time this situation has arisen I expect all will be fine. If she hands it to others often there may be issues.

LadyKenya · 19/01/2025 10:34

Funkyslippers · 19/01/2025 09:23

Hi. I was supposed to meet my disabled friend yesterday at a shopping centre for coffee. Day before she gave me her blue badge so I could park near the cafe when we meet as I was going to drive her home (she was getting a lift there). I parked up, went to the cafe & waited for her. After about 20 mins she rang to say she'd just been sick so couldn't come. I then drove home. I'm worried about using the badge illegally, is there any way parking attendants can tell?

In answer to your question, the only way the parking attendant could tell, is by comparing the back of the badge photo, to yourself. Seeing as that did not happen there is zero point worrying about this.

Anewuser · 19/01/2025 10:37

DazedAndConfused321 · 19/01/2025 09:38

It really depends on your councils rules. I wouldn't be able to do that in my council area because you're basically using it before the holder is in the car. Unless there's cameras or a warden around I doubt anyone would know

That’s not correct.

I can park in the disabled space and put the badge out. Then walk and meet them, returning to the van together to load him and his wheelchair up.

The disabled person does not have to be in the vehicle when you park, provided they are there when the vehicle leaves the parking space.

Same as, we can all park up together. Put the badge out, and if I wanted, I could stay in the vehicle while they went off.

You didn’t know she was not going to turn up. It was an easy mistake to make. It’s highly unlikely you will hear anything now.

Hoppinggreen · 19/01/2025 10:38

You won't get caught BUT I would say that you shouldn't have used it in those circumstances.
You could have met your friend and if you had parked too far for her to walk gone and got the car.
Not the crime of the century

DazedAndConfused321 · 19/01/2025 10:41

Anewuser · 19/01/2025 10:37

That’s not correct.

I can park in the disabled space and put the badge out. Then walk and meet them, returning to the van together to load him and his wheelchair up.

The disabled person does not have to be in the vehicle when you park, provided they are there when the vehicle leaves the parking space.

Same as, we can all park up together. Put the badge out, and if I wanted, I could stay in the vehicle while they went off.

You didn’t know she was not going to turn up. It was an easy mistake to make. It’s highly unlikely you will hear anything now.

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Like I said, it depends on the individual council's rules :) Some councils allow BBs to be used when running an errand for others. In this case, OP could be seen as trying to run an errand for their friend, but that might not be allowed.

Baileysandcream · 19/01/2025 10:42

LadyKenya · 19/01/2025 10:34

In answer to your question, the only way the parking attendant could tell, is by comparing the back of the badge photo, to yourself. Seeing as that did not happen there is zero point worrying about this.

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The disabled badge is issued to the person and can be used by anyone driving them, so comparing the photo on the badge to the driver of the car doesn't mean anything.

LadyKenya · 19/01/2025 10:45

Baileysandcream · 19/01/2025 10:42

The disabled badge is issued to the person and can be used by anyone driving them, so comparing the photo on the badge to the driver of the car doesn't mean anything.

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I am aware of that, but the disabled person was not present in this case, or going to be at any point. The OP is unnecessarily worrying that a parking attendant will somehow know this. That is not going to be the case, as she was not approached, or the badge looked at. So in this case there is nothing to worry about.

WorriedWifie · 19/01/2025 10:49

it really depends on your councils rules. I wouldn't be able to do that in my council area because you're basically using it before the holder is in the car.

Which council is that? That sounds like a really draconian and inconvenient rule.

LadyKenya · 19/01/2025 10:53

Like I said, it depends on the individual council's rules :) Some councils allow BBs to be used when running an errand for others. In this case, OP could be seen as trying to run an errand for their friend, but that might not be allowed.

Interesting. I don't think this is correct.

karmakameleon · 19/01/2025 10:55

It’s not true that blue badge usage rules vary from council to council. They are clearly set out on the government website and the OP is allowed to use the badge when collecting the holder as a passenger.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-blue-badge-scheme-rights-and-responsibilities-in-england/the-blue-badge-scheme-rights-and-responsibilities-in-england

starfishmummy · 19/01/2025 10:56

Arriving to pick someone up (or leaving after you drop them) is perfectly valid.

Hoppinggreen · 19/01/2025 10:59

LadyKenya · 19/01/2025 10:53

Like I said, it depends on the individual council's rules :) Some councils allow BBs to be used when running an errand for others. In this case, OP could be seen as trying to run an errand for their friend, but that might not be allowed.

Interesting. I don't think this is correct.

My Mum had a Blue Badge and it COULD be used for errands for her but not for things like visiting her in hospital even if taking her things.
I don't think it could have been properly used in the circumstances OP describes and I would have dropped my Mum off at a cafe, parked and then collected her later.
SDad (Mums main carer) had Aspergers and one of his triggers was around rules/laws and so we had to extensively research was was/wasn't allowed. He would worry about using the car to collect a prescription for her IF he was collecting one for himself for example and the suggestion he would stop to pick up milk on the way home would have really worried him for example. We got around this by Mum asking him to get milk FOR HER.

Isobel201 · 19/01/2025 11:05

You'll be okay using it in that circumstance. You weren't to know she was going to be sick that morning, and remember that a blue badge user doesn't necessarily use a wheelchair (I'm one of those people) so disabilities don't need to be visible in order to have one.

LadyKenya · 19/01/2025 11:10

SDad (Mums main carer) had Aspergers and one of his triggers was around rules/laws and so we had to extensively research was was/wasn't allowed. He would worry about using the car to collect a prescription for her IF he was collecting one for himself for example and the suggestion he would stop to pick up milk on the way home would have really worried him for example. We got around this by Mum asking him to get milk FOR HER.

Do you mean using her BB, without her being present is what he was worried about?

Viviennemary · 19/01/2025 11:14

I thought the person needed to be in the car to use the badge not sure if waiting would be counted.

Dutchhouse14 · 19/01/2025 11:19

It won't be noticed.
A parking warden would have had to check the badge whilst you were there to see it wasn't yours/badge holder wasn't in car.
I often use my daughter badge when dropping her off somewhere and collecting her.
Walking to and from the car without her ( I take her into the activity) does make me feel uncomfortable but it's always been fine.
Your friend was happy to give you the badge and it was going to be used for it's intended purpose, you were taking her home, so it's fine, if a warden had challenged you and she wasn't present then you and your friend could have been on a sticky situation but it didn't happen so don't worry

Anewuser · 19/01/2025 11:24

Hoppinggreen · 19/01/2025 10:59

My Mum had a Blue Badge and it COULD be used for errands for her but not for things like visiting her in hospital even if taking her things.
I don't think it could have been properly used in the circumstances OP describes and I would have dropped my Mum off at a cafe, parked and then collected her later.
SDad (Mums main carer) had Aspergers and one of his triggers was around rules/laws and so we had to extensively research was was/wasn't allowed. He would worry about using the car to collect a prescription for her IF he was collecting one for himself for example and the suggestion he would stop to pick up milk on the way home would have really worried him for example. We got around this by Mum asking him to get milk FOR HER.

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You’re wrong.

As @karmakameleon has pointed out, the government website states:

Don’t allow other people to use the badge to do something on your behalf, such as shopping or collecting something for you.

Anewuser · 19/01/2025 11:25

@Hoppinggreen you may be getting muddled up with when you can use a motability vehicle?

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 19/01/2025 11:31

Yes, you can get done. Know somebody who dropped relative at optician, parked on McDonald's (without relative but with her blue badge). Entirely avoidable.

Hoppinggreen · 19/01/2025 11:35

LadyKenya · 19/01/2025 11:10

SDad (Mums main carer) had Aspergers and one of his triggers was around rules/laws and so we had to extensively research was was/wasn't allowed. He would worry about using the car to collect a prescription for her IF he was collecting one for himself for example and the suggestion he would stop to pick up milk on the way home would have really worried him for example. We got around this by Mum asking him to get milk FOR HER.

Do you mean using her BB, without her being present is what he was worried about?

Yes, that right.
It was why he wouldn't sell his car for a very long time despite them needing only 1 car "just in case"