to be fed up of being challenged for parking in a disabled space?

[hedgehogsdontbite]

People think they're doing the righteous thing when they appoint themselves to the parking police but do they ever think about the impact they're having on the other person?

I was challenged yet again yesterday. The woman watched me park then stood in the space behind my car staring at me the whole time while I got out. Then snaps 'these spaces are for disabled people' as I walk past her.

Thing is, I have a blue badge which was out on my dashboard which shewouls have seen if she wasn't behind my car. But why do I even need to justify myself to some random in a supermarket carpark? I feel so intimidated by this kind of thing that I couldn't cope being in the shop so left. So now I need to go today instead, if I can get past the anxiety it's created.

AIBU to think 'just leave me the fuck alone'?

It isn't a power play. It is a recognition that Blue Badges are misused.

Queeltie, your numbers mean nothing unless shown as a factual percentage of the whole. If 300 queries were upheld of 400 and 400 were issued in the first place then that is a 75% misuse rate which is high but you haven't said how many were issued so you have no comparison to make. How do you know if there are 40,000 or 400? Your evidence doesn't count without the full facts.

Queeltie, maybe he was legging it to the toilet before he soiled himself? Maybe he wasn't. So what? Literally none of your business.

That's my point, you CAN'T know without asking.

There are over 2 million Blue badges in use in the UK

14,000 Blue Badges issued. My Local Authority does little to detect Blue Badge misuse. They had two "days of action" on it, and the rest were misuses reported by the public. So yes I do think that is a high rate of misuse.

300 doesn't sound like a huge amount (I agree they still shouldn't do it though) when you consider that in my very small rural local authority almost 8000 were issued over the last year accounted for. So in that context that'd be just over 3%?

As I say they shouldn't be doing it but its not as many as the media would like us to think.

Legging to the toilet in case he soiled himself? He wouldn't get a Blue Badge for that. I have major incontinence issues and basically wear nappies and am not entitled to a Blue Badge. The criteria to get a Blue Badge where I live is very strict.
And I am not stupid, of course I don't know which is why I said nothing. But I don't see how he would have met the strict criteria you have to meet here.

I don't see the link between accosting people and fraudulent use though. If I was the sort of scum who decided to misuse one, it's unlikely that some randomer haranguing me would result in 'fair cop guv, I won't do it again'. So it's not constructive at all.

Queeltie I have reported your post, you are not coming across well here at all and should think hard before responding.

You have reported my post? Why?
I have said lots of times that it is very hard to get a Blue Badge, that people shouldn't accost someone using a Blue Badge, but yes, that there is a lot of misuse.

ChronicallyAspie wrote When you read eg the mobility criteria of PIP, to get 12 points (which gives automatic entitlement to a blue badge) you need to be unable to walk 50m independently.

I'm on the enhanced rate of mobility (12 points) but can walk as far as I like, I just need a carer with me for it. As far as I know I'm not entitled to a blue badge. Where did you read that we were automatically entitled to it Chronically?

Your evidence is 300 of 14000, that is not a lot - it is in fact a small percentage. 0 would be better but that 300 is not a majority. I do not know about your health, it is not my business - in the same way that other people's health is not your business. It is unkind to speculate and if you have any concerns you can report to the authorities. I am glad you did not approach that person but you sound like you are condoning confrontation in other people, you sound prejudiced.

Get lost. I have said the exact opposite.

Carbolic - different Local Authorities have different rules. Where I live, you would be entitled to a Blue Badge.

Thanks Queeltie.

OP is DNBU & doubters need to rethink their actions.

Carbolic to get a blue badge automatically, you need to have got at least 8 points in "moving around" in the PIP assessment (www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/cars-and-other-vehicles/driving-and-parking/driving-and-parking-for-disabled-people/the-blue-badge-scheme/who-is-eligible-for-a-blue-badge/)

According to the Department of Transport there are 2.58 million blue badges in use in the UK.

There were 686 sucessful prosecutions last year and 330 the year before. Queeltie must live in a right scummy area if most/all of those are happening in her area. Except the authority with the highest prosecution rate is Fulham which prosecuted 154.

8 of those convicted were disabled people misusing their badges.

I'd love for some to explain how on average 500/8 out of 2.5 million constitutes 'widespread abuse'.

Sorry carbolic should have specified 'moving around' (and didn't realise it's 8 points, not 12, got the 50m bit right though). I'm assuming your award is under 'planning and following journeys' not 'moving around' (based on the fact that you said you can walk as far as you like but need a carer).

The discretionary criteria vary according to council- my council say you need to have either substantial and permanent difficulty in walking or drive regularly and be unable to operate a parking meter due to disabilities in both arms. So you would be unlikely to qualify here.

I have a friend who has a son with aspergers - he very occasionally has meltdowns and they have to leave places. So they have a blue badge. (I also have a son with autism but no blue badge as luckily we don't need one).

My friend often parks in a disabled spot when there is non-disabled spots free a very short distance away- like the row of car parking spaces behind her.

I do think that in her case if there is a free non-disabled spot about 5 or 10 seconds walk from the disabled spot then she should not opt for the disabled spot. Someone with mobility issues who needs more space for a wheelchair would benefit more from the wider disabled spot in that case.

If an older child or adult is having a meltdown you need more space to get them into car. We have had to get ds into the car whilst he is headbutting, scratching , kicking and biting us. We can't do it in a normal space.

But if friends son has a meltdown she would need to open the car doors fully to get him in the car, if there's a car parked next to you it is hard to open the door wide enough to help even a cooperative child into a car (hence P and C spaces), never mind one having a meltdown. So I can see why the badge has been issued and why your friend uses the wider spaces.

Incidentally, BBs can be issued for children with unstable medical conditions meaning they might need access to help quickly, I haven't seen an equivalent criterion for issuing adult badges.

Anyone who takes it upon themselves to interrogate a disabled badge user is a bully.

It's well documented that bullying comes in all forms, usually against the vulnerable.

And it's true that all bullies are cowards, which would explain why posters experience being challenged only when they're alone.

It's a shame to humanity that the disabled are a target. Anyone could end up disabled. No one is guaranteed immunity all of their lives. What happened to being weak with thankfulness that YOU don't have any disability? yet

What RedYella said.