What does the law say about Disabled Parking Spaces

[LordOfTheFlies]

Just reading a thread about TheFirstMrsDeveres OH and his space being taken has inspired me to go onto web to find out:
a/ if someone has a disabled parking space but they don't drive maybe family drive them when able to, how does the law stand when a visitor uses the space.
b/ if the resident lets them use the blue badge is this contravening its use eg the visitor is not disabled.
In my work NHS I visit patients at home and our trust gives us no parking concession,so we have to park like anyone else,sometimes waling a fair distance with large bag,notes,etc. BooHoo I know thats the way it is and patients are always surprised that we don't have permits.
SO to get to the point:If a patient has a disabled space,empty,and I am going to see that resident and have their permission, am I breaking the law? Do I need to put the blue badge in my car?
Please don't give me any moral advice about I'm fit I can walk,I'd never use a space any other time , but legally. Any traffic wardens out there?

AkiceLiddell, I think it's fine as it is: Disabled bays are there to ensure that a disabled person can physically get where they need to get. Able-bodied people don't need that concession, even when fetching shopping for disabled people.

The mis-use of BBs makes it hard enough for disabled people as it is without every space being taken by able-bodied family and friends having entitlement to a badge and managing to use it ever so often.....

And can I send a big loud BOO! to the 2 men with a navy people carrier (possibly a Zafira or Ford) with children in the back who parked in a disabled space in Holt on the Royal Wedding w/e to nip into Bakers? I was just politley ASKING if you would be there long (driver had nipped out to do shopping, leaving no BB in window) as I was desparately needing a space for the TWO BB holders (1 child, one elderley mother) I had in my car. there was no need to be so very unpleasant, especially in front of your children - and you were in the wrong I was nice, you were both total selfish rude arses. If you recognise your DH / dad (they may have been son and FIL), boot them up the arse!

I think in bubblecoral's case, it's fair enough - she's parked there so her gran can get into the car without having to walk far. If it was just her going to visit, then that's different because she isn't the one with a disability, so there's no fundamental reason she can't park somewhere further away and walk there. But when the disabled person is going to get into the car, it's fair to use the badge so you can bring the car close to the door, and then the same when delivering her back. If they take her back in and accept an offer of a cuppa before heading off, then that doesn't sound unreasonable.

Perhaps someone could give me some advice regarding this situation. My mum is a blue badge holder, and a few months ago I took her to the railway station, as she was catching a train to go and stay with my brother. We parked in a disabled space in the short stay carpark at the railway station so she could get out of the car. However, there was nowhere nearby I could move my car to, and I didn't want to leave her on her own at the entrance to the station while I did find a place for my car. She couldn't leave her blue badge in my car as she needed to take it with her to use while she was staying with my brother. I explained my situation to a car park employee and he said I could leave my car there until the train had gone, but was this in fact illegal?

Strickly speaking you have to display the badge but you had explained that to a staff member so had permission. It is the staff that sometimes calls the clampers so no it wasn't illegal. Many parents of disabled children find themselves in dilemmas such as this and i do think that common sense needs to be applied.

In a private car park, it's up to the parking attendants to "police" the bays, you weren't breaking any actual laws by doing it, and as long as the attendant agreed to it then there would be no problem.

Thanks! I didn't like taking up a space in case someone else might come who needed it, but at the same time, I really didn't feel I could leave my mum on her own while I moved the car.

MrSpoc that is exactly what I was lead to believe,as I am seeing them in a professional capacity, ( instead of them coming to the Health Centre) then its like the reverse situation ; instead of them using the clinic BB space, I use theirs. Also regarding the painted spaces as being courtosy rather than enforceable

wow it is confusing isn't it, sometimes when I take dd out~(bb holder) we park up a hill, so when we are going back to the van I leave her with other adult and bring the van to her(to save pushing her up the hill( dread explaining that one to a trafic warden.
you can't use a BB just cos you are dropping off shopping, or visiting a BB holder, the BB and disabled bay is there to make it easier for tha BB to get in and out of the car, not for unloading shopping or easier parking....
but it can be mad, we used to live on a busy road with limited parking, so we had a bay put out side our house(an enforceable one with sign) but it transpired that I could only park in it if DD was either getting in and out of car!! yeah the neighbours would have love me using up 2 spaces.

Our neighbour has a disabled space which is empty 99% of the time, because she parks in her garage. She uses it to "reserve" a space in a road with limited parking for when her son comes to visit... and he doesn't take her out in his car.

Disabled parking spaces on residentail roads (the ones you can pay the council to paint outside your own house) have not legal standing and anyone can use them

I think this is wrong on a few counts.

You don't pay council's to paint them in - the council does it for nothing if you are a blue badge holder and once it has gone through planning (takes an age in my experience)

If there is a post by the bay - also put in by the council - only disabled people are eligible to park in it. Anyone else can be ticketed by traffic wardens and sometimes towed away. If there is no post, it is not enforceable and anyone can technically park there. However, it is really bad form as bays are often without a post because someone is waiting for it to be installed and still needs the bay.

Lord of the Flies, you can't use someone else's blue badge unless you are taking the disabled person with you in your car. Perhaps your NHS trust should provide you with a Carer's Badge where - in our NHS Trust - you can park virtulally anywhere for up to an hour.

I agree with Bakelite.

Also - you can leave your car in one of these spaces inbetween your child getting out one time and getting in the next - not just for the duration of the process of getting in / getting out!