Why do people question blue badge holders?

[TeenLifeMum]

I’ve seen comments over the years about people being challenged for not looking disabled. But they’re not easy to get - in fact they seem ridiculously challenging and dad might be dead by the time he bloody gets one. Medical records and consultant’s letter isn’t enough, he needs an interview… but they keep arranging the interview for when he’s having cancer treatment (every day so I appreciate it’s hard to schedule).

Just needed to vent.

I never said I did it or agreed with it. I wish people would read posts properly.

Yes that is why I edited my post.

The information that comes with the blue badge says that it is illegal to use it that way, and will result in the badge being rescinded.

That's true. I was just making the point traffic wardens do have a way of checking because the badge does have photo ID.

I would never dream of questioning anyone. And I say that as someone who has a friend who uses his mum’s blue badge constantly when he’s alone. Pretty sure he’s never been challenged by anyone.

Anecdotally, I applied for my dad to have a blue badge while he waited for a hip
replacement. There were no hoops for him to jump. It was really straightforward and quick.

Again, how can you tell just by looking?

A lot of people need a disabled badge but don't 'look' disabled, and it causes considerable distress to them when they are challenged by a busybody.

Out of interest, as Parent & Child spaces have been discussed - what is the view on people without Blue Badges and no children parking in p&c spaces because they have an invisible disability (and don't want to use a disabled space or they're all full)?

Would you encourage them to get a Blue Badge or accept that anyone can park in P&C spaces?

When I broke my foot, I did use P&C spaces as I needed the room to open my car door and put my boot on, then get out on crutches.
I was not entitled to a BB.

My stock answer to being told you don’t look disabled (it’s happened twice to me) is you don’t look like an ignorant cunt, but there we go.

Yes fair enough (could you drive? Automatic maybe?)

I'm thinking more invisible disability tbh but I guess you can't ever question anyone as there are bound to be many genuine cases where you'd be sympathetic to them being in p&c spaces but not qualifying for a Blue badge!

I could drive after a few weeks after I broke my foot, but only in trainers, and I had to wear the sexy NHS space boot as soon as I got out the car.

P&C spaces are not protected though like BB spaces though, as far as I gather. P&C spaces are a courtesy, and a marketing ploy.

P&C spaces are courtesy spaces. I have yet to hear of anybody being fined for parking in one, without a child.

Good luck with that. I hazard a guess, that a retort like that would not be used by a lot of disabled people, for fear of being physically assaulted, in return.

It happens regularly in a car park near us. It causes absolute uproar now and then when someone gets caught. They also fine if the child doesn't get out the car. It's the only place I've known it to happen though and I'm not sure how many people actually pay up. I think people just assume they will get away with it and are quite surprised to get a fine.

Well to start if they don’t have a BB it’s not about them “not wanting to”. They can’t.

as for P&C I would also say no. You’re an adult, and if you don’t qualify for a BB then presumably your disability doesn’t prevent you from using normal parking spaces.

you’re effectively saying it’s up the user whether they park in P&C, which negates the whole point of them because I’m sure we could all come up with a reason.

You’re an adult, and if you don’t qualify for a BB then presumably your disability doesn’t prevent you from using normal parking spaces.

I think this is where the person in question would disagree - it's an invisible disability, so they say they need extra consideration like a P&C space.

you’re effectively saying it’s up the user whether they park in P&C, which negates the whole point of them because I’m sure we could all come up with a reason.

I agree this is the conclusion of this train of thought - sympathy to people with a genuine need using a P&C space but then not being able to distinguish who does/doesn't have a genuine need. (It's good that disabled spaces are actually restricted to blue badge and not self-identifying into them for this reason.)

(And as a total aside, I've been in some supermarket car parks where the spaces are so tiny or badly squeezed in, that I have been unable to get into my normal-sized car in a normal space when pregnant! So I'm sympathetic that sometimes practicality needs to win out!)

The problem is that it means many disabled people getting aggressively questioned about their disability in public places, @Screamingabdabz.

I have read a number of threads on here where disabled people, with legitimate blue badges, have been very upset and felt attacked by the so-called ‘Blue Badge Police’.

Talking of Fraud My DS1 went off to Manchester to stay with friends.
i leave my badge in his car as he drives me around, on the visor.
Some nasty bastard broke into his car, doing quite a bit of damage.. smashed passenger window and buckled the frame
The only thing they took was my BB
How low can these scumbags get?

The sad thing is that the BB police tend to be BB holders themselves.

That is surprising. I have not seen that.

Makes no difference if the disability is visible though. An invisible disability is still a disability, and if they need extra consideration they will still qualify for a BB.

if the disability doesn’t qualify, whether it’s visible or invisible is moot.

@MarySueSaidBoo I’m sorry for your loss. They did say end of life patients are fast tracked. My dad’s cancer is not curable but he’s not declared end of life at this point so doesn’t qualify for fast track.

To see my mum you’d have no inkling she has breast cancer and a blood clot on her lung. Initially she was being too proud to get a bb but has realised df needs one to go anywhere and there’s a high chance she will when her cancer treatments start.

I’m sure people abuse them but that’s not a good enough reason to risk challenging a genuinely disabled person who has enough shit to deal with.

I'm still amazed at the differences in different areas of people of applying for a badge. All I had to do was fill in an online form. I didn't have to speak to anyone. I didn't see anyone. Nobody asked my permission to contact my doctor, and they didn't. The badge arrived in the post 2 weeks later. I could have lied through my teeth. As it was I filled it in for my bad days, which isn't true most of the time.

My condition comes and goes. On bad days I can't walk. Most of the time I'm just a bit stiff but don't look any worse than a lot of people who don't qualify for badges. I don't abuse the badge. I do use disabled bays at Tesco on good days to make it easier to get out of the car without pain, but there are always a dozen empty and I wouldn't if there weren't.

I did report some people once. I was looking out of the window of the courthouse and saw a car park on double yellows right outside. Two very healthy looking young people jumped out of it and strode quickly off up the street and out of sight, they hadn't parked anywhere near where they needed to get to. I genuinely thought it was a bomb threat so I called the police. If they were cheats I hope they got into trouble for it.

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Only IF the council bother to check and take enforcement action. Which apparently is as rare as seeing a unicorn! You'd need a really bored council traffic enforcement person to actually check and challenge someone using a blue badge.

I apply for lots of Blue badges for clients. I have only ever had one turned down in four years ! The application process is an awful faff but once submitted it's generally approved within 48 hours. they mean such a lot to people that really need them. I always send lots of medical evidence though so they likely don't need to speak to client's GP.