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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To use expired blue badge?

42 replies

Trampoline11 · 21/12/2022 07:39

Looking for some advice on this. My elderly DM has an emergency appointment this morning in the hospital having seen a GP yesterday. The hospital is huge and she wouldn't be able to walk (uses a frame) from the car park.

I thought of dropping her off (not sure where), parking the car and then coming back for her. I think she should be in a wheelchair tbh and will raise this today as we can't go on like this I know.

Would it be really bad if I used her expired disabled badge just for this morning? I know that it should have been renewed so feel bad about that but there isn't anything I can do about it other than feel guilty.

What would you do?

OP posts:
Marmite27 · 21/12/2022 07:40

Yes, not for any moral reason, but the likely hood is you’ll be fined.

MyBooksAndMyCats · 21/12/2022 07:41

I'd use it this once, then get it renewed asap.

Mosaic123 · 21/12/2022 07:41

I agree it's not good but on this one occasion it's going to be difficult to cope without it.

Could you say (and prove) that you have applied for the new badge?

Augend23 · 21/12/2022 07:41

I don't think you need to feel bad about it in the sense that it sounds like she'd be eligible. But it expiring presumably means it's not valid and they then give you a parking ticket if they notice. So it depends if you're prepared to risk that.

I'd probably go with dropping off and then parking (and you may well be able to borrow a wheelchair).

Zingy123 · 21/12/2022 07:41

I would put a note next to it in your car saying replacement badge delayed in the post.

gogohmm · 21/12/2022 07:41

You can drop her as close as possible then re park the car once she is sitting down. You'll likely to be fined if you leave your car in a spot though

Mrsjayy · 21/12/2022 07:42

I'd say use it but people might come along and tut at you, not all disabled parking spaces require a blue badge. The hospital might have wheelchairs at the entrance ours do.

PhillyJoe · 21/12/2022 07:43

Your mum clearly has mobility issues which is the whole point of a blue badge so yes use it this time and get it renewed.

liveforsummer · 21/12/2022 07:43

Depends on the situation. Obviously she has every right and need to use the space so morally this wouldn't be an issue but is it a paid car park where you are likely to get fined by a warden? If not then I'd use. I'd also consider it might be worth the risk of the fine for the sake of your DM depending on amount/your finances etc. Does the date actually appear on the badge?

litlealligator · 21/12/2022 07:44

In a hospital car park there's probably a higher chance of being caught and fined unfortunately.

GreenWheat · 21/12/2022 07:44

Just use it, risk the fine and crack on. Get your application in for the renewal ASAP. Life isn't perfect, it's not as if your DM isn't deserving of the blue badge.

Mrsjayy · 21/12/2022 07:44

Yes the date is on the badge.

XanaduKira · 21/12/2022 07:44

Zingy123 · 21/12/2022 07:41

I would put a note next to it in your car saying replacement badge delayed in the post.

I'd do this.

PhillyJoe · 21/12/2022 07:45

My hospital’s parking tickets are not enforceable and all staff ignore them (not for parking in disabled spaces but for parking illegally). And the fine is very small. Might be different at differ hospitals.

Mouthfulofquiz · 21/12/2022 07:46

I would use it but be prepared for the fine.

Original poster
Trampoline11 · 21/12/2022 07:46

How much is the fine? I read £1000 but not sure if that's the worse it could be.

I'm not making excuses and in the other, smaller hospital, I do park up, drop her off, park car and then come back for her. In this one, there isn't really a drop off point where I could leave my car, take her to wherever she can sit down then go and park car. It's a long way for me as I can't walk quickly myself.

Oh dilemmas, dilemmas!

OP posts:
bizzywiththefizzy · 21/12/2022 07:47

Knowing what the Car park staff are like you will get a ticket straight away , so if you are willing to pay that ...

toomuchicecream · 21/12/2022 07:48

You could always ‘accidentally’ put the clock on the dashboard overlapping the badge so it obscures the last part of the expiry date…

(I very definitely didn’t do that once when I’d stupidly left my blue badge in DH’s car but had the old one in the glove compartment)

girlmom21 · 21/12/2022 07:50

Call the main reception desk and explain the situation and ask what they suggest.

Alternatively, leave her in the car, go and get a wheelchair then pull forward out the space to get her in and out

bizzywiththefizzy · 21/12/2022 07:51

toomuchicecream · 21/12/2022 07:48

You could always ‘accidentally’ put the clock on the dashboard overlapping the badge so it obscures the last part of the expiry date…

(I very definitely didn’t do that once when I’d stupidly left my blue badge in DH’s car but had the old one in the glove compartment)

Don't do this you'll get fined for obscuring it !

AmazingBouncingFerret · 21/12/2022 07:53

I feel for you OP. I had a similar situation with my Dad (except he didn’t have a blue badge back then)
The plan was I would drive him to the drop off point and he would wait for me there whilst I parked the car.
He must have looked like he was suffering though because a kind member of the public had brought him a wheelchair trolley thing to sit in whilst I was parking.
You’d think they would put benches in that area wouldn’t you?

IClaudine · 21/12/2022 07:53

How out of date is it? If a couple of weeks I would put a note on the dashboard saying you are waiting for a new one. You may still get a fine though.

Maybe it would be less stressful if you got a taxi there and back?

Sirzy · 21/12/2022 07:53

Given the amount of people who park in the disabled spaces at alder hey with no blue badge at all if I was you I probably would but with a note explaining that a new one has been ordered. It’s not ideal but it’s the best in a bad situation unless by some miracle a normal space is free close enough

hope the appointment goes well.

Original poster
Trampoline11 · 21/12/2022 07:54

I'll probably have a fight on my hands to use it (DF was a policeman and it's a law don't you know) but she won't be able to walk that far. If I get a wheelchair from the porters, I'll still have her frame to deal with. They may hang on to it though.

Just thinking out loud here. I can deal with things once we're in and she's sitting comfortably, it's where she can 'be' whilst I'm doing all this. Would it be a good idea if I said which hospital?

OP posts:
Sirzy · 21/12/2022 07:56

Is there a cafe bar type thing should could sit in and wait? Our local hospitals all have a friends of the hospital cafe bar near the entrance which is ideal for dropping off in situations like this

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