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Original poster

Cousin used my nans disability badge

113 replies

Shauna2866 · 14/08/2023 19:48

hi just wondering can a traffic warden find out who a disability badge belongs to from the number of the front of the badge?
basically my cousin who’s an idiot decided to use my nans blue badge and he said the trafffic warden asked to see it and he refused to let them see it so they took pictures of his car front and back !!
my Nan is absolutely furious with him but we are thinking now what’s going to happen ?
will my Nan get in trouble even though she didn’t know ? He used it he takes her shopping and she left her badge in his car my Nan is a non driver so he does do a lot of driving but today he has used it for himself when he should not have done!!

OP posts:
Flopsythebunny · 15/08/2023 11:58

x2boys · 15/08/2023 11:55

He's still.highly unlikely to.end up.in prison so.im.not sure what you think your going to.achieve by posting links

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Hopefully it will stop the selfish bastards on this thread from minimising what he's done

HalloumiLuvver · 15/08/2023 11:59

@MereDintofPandiculation hahahahahaha they don't jail rapists or violent burglars these days due to costs so I HIGHLY doubt a blue badge offence would result in porridge time!

ASoapImpressionOfHisWifeWhichHeAte · 15/08/2023 12:01

He could have been using it to get stuff for her quite legitimately though. So no wrong doing on anyone's part.

HalloumiLuvver · 15/08/2023 12:07

ASoapImpressionOfHisWifeWhichHeAte · 15/08/2023 12:01

He could have been using it to get stuff for her quite legitimately though. So no wrong doing on anyone's part.

That's not how it works any more. The blue badge holder has to be there with the badge. You can't do errands for someone using their badge now.

x2boys · 15/08/2023 12:07

Flopsythebunny · 15/08/2023 11:58

Hopefully it will stop the selfish bastards on this thread from minimising what he's done

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I do t see anyone minimising ,I do see people catastrophising which isnt helpful

Choux · 15/08/2023 12:08

ASoapImpressionOfHisWifeWhichHeAte · 15/08/2023 12:01

He could have been using it to get stuff for her quite legitimately though. So no wrong doing on anyone's part.

The badge is only to be used for easing her travel. Collecting a prescription for her while she is at home is not a legitimate use of a blue badge.

Amispringy · 15/08/2023 12:18

Neonyellowfish · 14/08/2023 20:43

Can’t he just say your nan was in the shop and he was dropping something to the post office before collecting her again?

So lie, as well as being a cheating twat?

viques · 15/08/2023 12:48

NewName122 · 14/08/2023 21:52

Your nan can just say she was with your cousin. Say she was still shopping and your cousin was waiting for her.

Yes, ask her to lie for him, why not? Poor woman is already in a state so why not add to it and expect her lie in Court if they don’t believe him .

amusedbush · 15/08/2023 12:57

Saying (read: lying) that he was dropping your gran off won't help him either. From the guidance I received with my blue badge:

If you are a passenger, then someone else can use it to drop you off or pick you up. The driver should not wait in a disabled person’s parking place and should remove the badge from display and park as they normally would. They can then return to a disabled persons parking place to collect the badge holder when required.

So even if he had dropped your gran off, if the traffic warden was aware that he'd left his car in a disabled space while he was off running errands, that still would have broken the rules. After dropping the badge holder off, the driver is supposed to go and park elsewhere, then return to a disabled space only to collect them.

I hope your cousin does get fined, to be honest. This bullshit is why I have to put up with people staring at me when I park, or tutting at me pointedly, or "subtly" trying to check my badge on the dashboard when I'm standing right there. People assume I'm a scammer but I'm just 33 and disabled 😒

Choux · 15/08/2023 13:11

@amusedbush sorry you feel people are checking up on you. I was probably one of those people. Until my dad got a blue badge I didn't realise how in demand those spots were in a couple of places we would go together (we prob only used the blue badge once a month as he was semi housebound).

I would check every other car parked in a blue badge spot had a blue badge as I wanted to be sure people weren't taking advantage of convenient spots and forcing my dad to sometimes have to walk further than he easily could. I rarely saw the car owners but if I did I would check the 73 year olds as well as the 33 year olds - anyone could be using one fraudulently. I was just being protective of my dad and his health.

sashh · 15/08/2023 13:11

ASoapImpressionOfHisWifeWhichHeAte · 15/08/2023 12:01

He could have been using it to get stuff for her quite legitimately though. So no wrong doing on anyone's part.

No. The disabled person has to be there and they have to get out of the car.

If I drive to the shop and my carer goes in I can't park in a disabled bay.

MereDintofPandiculation · 15/08/2023 14:13

HalloumiLuvver · 15/08/2023 11:59

@MereDintofPandiculation hahahahahaha they don't jail rapists or violent burglars these days due to costs so I HIGHLY doubt a blue badge offence would result in porridge time!

Perhaps you could do me the politeness of reading what I actually said before doubling up in laughter at my post?

They do still jail people who pervert the course of justice, even when the original offence would not warrant a prison sentence.

Chris Huhne, MP, was jailed for perverting the course of justice, even though his original offence was speeding.

Wenfy · 15/08/2023 14:19

Young men are currently stealing blue badges in major cities for parking benefits. So he should expect contact from the police

amusedbush · 15/08/2023 14:43

Choux · 15/08/2023 13:11

@amusedbush sorry you feel people are checking up on you. I was probably one of those people. Until my dad got a blue badge I didn't realise how in demand those spots were in a couple of places we would go together (we prob only used the blue badge once a month as he was semi housebound).

I would check every other car parked in a blue badge spot had a blue badge as I wanted to be sure people weren't taking advantage of convenient spots and forcing my dad to sometimes have to walk further than he easily could. I rarely saw the car owners but if I did I would check the 73 year olds as well as the 33 year olds - anyone could be using one fraudulently. I was just being protective of my dad and his health.

Ah sorry, I don't mean side-eyeing to see if there is a badge on display! I understand that - I get frustrated when I'm struggling to park and loads of cars aren't displaying badges.

The incident I was referring to was when I got out of my car and a woman gave me an odd look, pretended she was walking past me, then stopped. She tried to look like she was casually leaning/stretching while peering through my windscreen, clearly trying to read my badge. When she looked up and realised I'd been watching the whole time like 😐 she looked so embarrassed.

Pasithean · 15/08/2023 15:52

If your cousin wants a blue badge so much I will gladly give them mine along with my disability. Some councils are at last cracking down on these people and issuing fines.

Gymnopedie · 15/08/2023 16:34

I think a lot of the outcome will depend on your cousin being honest - that your nan always takes the badge in after it's been used but this once she forgot. He took advantage of that. He has to stress that he did not have her permission.

Of course the 'just once' is often used when it's not true (especially banned drivers caught driving) but it gives your nan the best chance of not being involved.

Choupette7 · 15/08/2023 17:14

There was a thread on here a couple of years ago where the op did have to go to court for using a blue badge, in a car park, that didn't belong to her.

Can't remember the outcome but it definitely went to court.

Original poster
Shauna2866 · 15/08/2023 17:58

Yeah I’m sure it will go to court my nans worried incase she has to bless her and she thinks her badge is going to be took of her as well hopefully find out soon what the outcome is.

OP posts:
tommika · 15/08/2023 18:33

It’s a valid blue badge and it was used without her consent - stick to the truth and her badge is safe

He has ‘misused’ the badge, and there are clear grounds for pursuing as he was highly defensive over it.
£1000 is the maximum fine, the best he can do is await the letter then act accordingly, taking the level of fine offered if that is an option and most likely going to court being apologetic and confessing.

……..

I am a ‘carer’ to a friend and am regularly parked up with their badge, normally dropping them off to shop whilst either waiting or shopping myself - and finishing quicker than them. I have not been challenged, but as they are still in the shop I can confidently allow the badge to be inspected with their photo etc - it’s clearly not me in the photo but it doesn’t need to be provided it’s being used properly

x2boys · 15/08/2023 18:46

If he admits it and pays the fine why would it go to.court?

EmmatheStageRat · 15/08/2023 18:53

amusedbush · 15/08/2023 14:43

Ah sorry, I don't mean side-eyeing to see if there is a badge on display! I understand that - I get frustrated when I'm struggling to park and loads of cars aren't displaying badges.

The incident I was referring to was when I got out of my car and a woman gave me an odd look, pretended she was walking past me, then stopped. She tried to look like she was casually leaning/stretching while peering through my windscreen, clearly trying to read my badge. When she looked up and realised I'd been watching the whole time like 😐 she looked so embarrassed.

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Yes, I’ve had Blue Badge shaming on multiple occasions now. My DD1(15) is registered blind but she has no Guide Dog and she doesn’t always use a long cane. She looks like a ‘normal’ teen. She is entitled to a Blue Badge because of her disability (it’s not the only one she has) and I am fed up of people tutting and ostentatiously checking out her badge when I/we are legitimately parked in disabled/BB spaces. Children and young people can be disabled and entitled to Blue Badges too!

Freshstarts23 · 15/08/2023 20:14

Choux · 15/08/2023 01:16

@PeopleAreWeird A quick google would show that court cases for blue badge misuse DO happen.

Since January 2022, we have handed out £11,868 in fines, an average £456 per offence, with a further five cases to be taken to a full court hearing later this year.
Sadly, Blue Badge fraud is on the increase. Not only does it take away spaces from those genuinely in need, but it undermines the integrity of the scheme.
Displaying a Blue Badge illegally is a crime, our teams take matters like this seriously and will prosecute those responsible. Every case we took to court last year resulted in a conviction. Misuse could result in a fine of up to £1,000 and risks confiscation of the badge which may have an impact on its intended user.
kirkleestogether.co.uk/2023/01/31/crackdown-on-blue-badge-misuse/

In OPs case if he refuses to pay any fine he gets and claims his Nan was with him but not seen, the council could opt to take him to court and ask Nan to testify. I would advise the cousin to accept the fine, apologies and not do it again. Hopefully that way Nan can keep her blue badge.

I would imagine the very few that have gone as far as court are ones that have been stolen and sold on. Not somebody saying they’ve taken their Nan shopping.

Flopsythebunny · 15/08/2023 20:32

Freshstarts23 · 15/08/2023 20:14

I would imagine the very few that have gone as far as court are ones that have been stolen and sold on. Not somebody saying they’ve taken their Nan shopping.

Show quote history

Not according to the monthly reports in the local paper. Their names, age and area they live are all published along with the sentence

Original poster
Shauna2866 · 15/08/2023 20:45

What ? The police ? Can they actually come out over this ? Tbh I’ve been reading up about it today and it’s not good it’s really bad!!

my Nan bless her just keeps saying that’s it my badge is going to get took of me now and I’m going to get in to trouble she won’t lie definitely not it’s unfair for her to lie when she could then get in trouble she’s to old and not in great health to be dealing with all that.

OP posts:
tommika · 15/08/2023 21:00

Shauna2866 · 15/08/2023 20:45

What ? The police ? Can they actually come out over this ? Tbh I’ve been reading up about it today and it’s not good it’s really bad!!

my Nan bless her just keeps saying that’s it my badge is going to get took of me now and I’m going to get in to trouble she won’t lie definitely not it’s unfair for her to lie when she could then get in trouble she’s to old and not in great health to be dealing with all that.

Search for blue badges under your local council.

I doubt that she will have her badge withdrawn as she has not permitted misuse and she has not backed him up with false claims of being there

Somerset for example have the first possible actions of ‘no further action’ and ‘a warning will be given’ …… and the ultimate that a prosecution will be pursued

https://www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/report-the-misuse-of-a-blue-badge/

Ultimately mumsnet doesn’t know what will happen in this case. She has done no wrong
He is facing a potential fine up to £1000 and a potential record. But the actual outcome is unknown

The other option is a solicitor for advice, and there are those that ‘advertise’ Blue badge cases

Report the misuse of a Blue Badge

How to tell us if you think someone is misusing a disabled parking badge

https://www.somerset.gov.uk/roads-travel-and-parking/report-the-misuse-of-a-blue-badge/