Cousin used my nans disability badge

[Shauna2866]

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!!

@tommika thanks I’ve jus looked and can’t see much about what my council do I’m with Cheshire west and Chester

I can't see the issue here - your trip and your parking is for her benefit, you park where you do so you can collect her. It is kind of you to move the car on the drop off trip, I assume out of a blue badge spot, before you put her shopping away but there is no need to go that far (unless you're then going to stay at hers for hours over a brew and cake, vs unload, unpack shopping, leave)..

Again, you parked for her to get out, she could not get out unless you parked there... so its a legit use of the badge.

We sometimes park, get out, do shopping and then I might go back and sit in the car for a bit, have a rest and then get out again, leaving my chair at the side or in front (usually in front as we normally park nose in).

In reality, it probably will not go to
court. The majority of councils never take anyone to court over Blue Badge misuse:

https://amp.theguardian.com/society/2023/feb/20/four-english-councils-bring-half-of-legal-actions-for-blue-badge-misuse

And if anyone gets taken to court it will be your cousin not your Nan (and serve him right). But he will probably more likely get a parking fine.

Where I live, Lambeth, the authority that prosecutes most, BB theft is a major thing and the stolen badges are used by drug dealers for their deliveries and drop offs.

If everyone involved simply tells the absolute truth the fine would surely be minimal.

Start lying and it'll only get much worse. There is CCTV everywhere so no footage of Nan being in the car at all on this occasion.

You’re doing the right thing.

Your mother does not need to accompany the badge at all times - what you have described is using the badge for her purposes - you are collecting her and are dropping her off

Ideally the badge remains with her to be available for other drivers, then (assuming where you park across the green needs the badge to justify parking) you pop in, grab the badge, put it in the car, collect her and reverse on return
If yours is the only vehicle she travels in then you can carry the badge but must withdraw it from sight when she isn’t involved - this however is the excuse often used for cases similar to the OP

OP waas your cousin in a disabled space? That would be a £70 fine, which IMHO should be far more.

https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/car-parks-and-parking/parking-regulations-enforcement/parking-contraventions.aspx

THis is their policy on disabled badges:

1. Action where misuse/fraudulent use is suspected

3.1.Where many breaches can be dealt with by providing advice, more serious cases can only be dealt with effectively under a more formal manner. 3.2.Dependent upon the relevant legislation, a variety of actions can be taken, including:

Verbal or written warning
Penalty Charge Notice
Suspension/seizure of a Blue Badge
Simple Caution
PACE interview
Prosecution

https://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/documents/s48631/Enforcement%20Policy%20-%20Appendix%203.pdf

On the back of the badge, and on their records, will be a pictures and details of the badge holder.

No, it's not. It has to be for dropping off or picking up, or with the disabled person driving.

That's technically not using it properly, though. If you are ever challenged (by someone in authority, I mean, not just a nosy passer-by!), you might be asked to move.

I posted about this upthread but the rules state:

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.

Sorry, I know I sound pedantic I'm only sticking my oar in because you said you'd feel confident that you were using the badge properly if challenged, and I wouldn't want you to get in trouble!

I’ll add that this is at supermarket parking rather than street or council provided disabled spaces

It doesn’t only have to be for dropping off and picking up. If that is what you are doing, then yes, move the car out of the bay until pick up.

But my Mum could neither drive herself nor accomplish shopping, appointments etc without care and assistance. So of course we parked in a BB space, I would accompany her and provide necessary assistance leaving the car in the BB space until we returned together.

It would have been absurd if I wasn’t allowed to do that. She couldn’t have been left while I re-parked so the whole point of a BB would be lost.

That is perfectly legitimate use of the badge. My mother has one and we do this if my sister or I are taking her anywhere (supermarket, hospital, shops, for a pub lunch, to the garden centre etc.).

My mother would often be using her mobility scooter, but occasionally we might be using her other wheelchair or her walker. She needs someone with her for safety so you can't just abandon her to go and re-park the car. It stays put with the blue badge clearly on display in the windscreen.

Ideally the badge remains with her to be available for other drivers, then (assuming where you park across the green needs the badge to justify parking) you pop in, grab the badge, put it in the car, collect her and reverse on return
If yours is the only vehicle she travels in then you can carry the badge but must withdraw it from sight when she isn’t involved - this however is the excuse often used for cases similar to the OP

Yes, those spaces I was referring to are disabled bays, they are the nearest I can get to her bungalow. I don't take her badge away with me as she can have it if a friend takes her out.