A twist on the "no badge but parked in a disabled space" debate

[DoesntTheTurkeyDragOn]

I saw several cars parked in disable bays up at Waitrose today. All displaying badges bar one.

Except I saw the driver get out of this car, expertly manhandle her wheelchair out of the boot and round to the drivers door where she got herself into it using the drivers seat and a walking stick. So why no badge?

It did make me think how many other "no badge" cars are actually valid disabled drivers/passengers and I shall reduce my tutting forthwith.

Perhaps its been stolen or expired and the Council are a bit pants being disorganised about sending out a new one.

I would keep the judgyness going tbh. I expect someone with a disability who needs the space would far rather be told off for not having a badge than be unable to use the spaces because some lazy git can't be bothered to walk 10 extra paces and he doesn't getr told off because he might have a genuine disability but no badge.

My Dad doesn't have a badge, he uses my Mum's old one (she died 8 years ago), but he can't walk far at all, and is 85 and does need it.

I have told him to apply for one of his own but he claims there's no point as he has hers.

I'm not sure what to make of it really as although it's illegal, he does genuinely need the parking space.

You have to "pass" certain criteria to get a blue badge, maybe she was able bodied enough and got declined?

Someone I work with has a blue badge but never displays it as she thinks it will be stolen!

Also as far as I am aware, temporary disablements (such as SPD during pregnancy) do not qualify!

So she got out of the car, walked to the boot, got out the wheelchair, pushed it to the drivers side then got in it?

Muggglewump, your dad is risking a hefty fine if he continues to use your mum's old badge; being out of date makes it more likely to be spotted. If he does genuinely need the badge then there will be no problem about him getting one.

It is now possible to get a blue badge for a temporary walking impairment, IOS, (I don't agree with this, personally, but hey...).

Riven, I read it as she then drove off!

Keep being suspicious. I was horrified when DH came home and told me that a local branch he'd had to visit for work had 4 women who worked there who all had disabled badges because "they don't like to pay for parking and want to park by the branch".

If they had been my staff they would all have found themselves in big, big trouble It's immoral and dishonest. Just the qualities you want for staff working in a high street bank

I know MsHighwater, I have told him but he doesn't listen.
I am not annoyed with him using it, just frustrated that he won't apply for his own. It's clear he needs it, he's just stubborn/annoying/knows everything etc!

I have a partially disabled mum, sometimes by the time we get the wheelchair out, get toddler out, find a disabled trolley we just genuinely forget to put the blue badge on

One of these days I am going to get a civil fine and going to have to pay it as the rule is not just have a badge its display a badge

Lack of mobility shouldnt mean lack of brain cells {fgrin]

TBH, I don't know exactly what she did as I didn't want to look like I was staring She used the drivers seat/door to help herself into the wheelchair anyway, having walked to the boot with stick(s). Not a temporary disability.

I just thought it was interesting that the only car without a badge was the one I knew had a disabled driver. I think the abuse that goes on is dreadful.

That sounds exactly like me when I had SPD. Achieving what you describe, i.e. getting the chair out by myself, was painful as hell. Did I beg and beg for a blue badge? Yes. Did I get one? No. They refuse to give a blue badge for SPD as "it has to be a permanent disability". I couldn't possibly get into the wheelchair from a normal parking space, so risked a fine every time I had to go the the shops. I would remaiin sympathetic to what you witnessed.

cross today - people parking in disabled bay at school (which I need and have blue badge for). Able driver takes spot and walks gaily off to collect kids - disabled wife sits in car. I'm the disabled driver, on sticks and wobbly on my pins (keep falling over) - if I don't do school run family will collapse, husband lose job etc - if I can't park easily, can't do school run. I know you can use the space when you have a disabled passenger but she 's going along for the ride.......am I horrible?

aokay, no you're not, if she has no intention of leaving the car then they should park in a regular space. It grates on me when I see people parked in the P&T spaces and the children left in the car...

Not really aokay. I wouldn't dream of using a disabled space if I wasn't actually getting out of the car. That kind of denies the point.

Seems like it is harder to get blue badges in some authorities than others, even with an obvious and debilitating disability. IMO it's shocking how some of the more vulnerable people in society are treated, and those who know how to play the system get away with it

thanks for that - had to appeal to get mine despite real ambulatory problems - know someone who got it for ME but walks around normally - try not to judge but sometimes I think the system almost makes it dog eat dog.