General Chat

I know if you display your blue badge the wrong way up, ie photo showing, you can be given a ticket, as the warden can't see the expiry date of it.
I know someone whose son claims his road tax for her usage, and he only uses the vehicle for his work, his OWN business. The road tax is only supposed to be issued for a vehicle being used to collect the claimant's' prescriptions, shopping or taking them to hospital.
No wonder the genuine cases are being penalised.

My OH has a blue badge
He has no feeling in his feet or backs of his legs due to a spinal op 25 years ago
He also has terrific nerve pains and there a days when he cant walk very far at all
But most of this is not visible to people,though he does walk a bit like Douglas Barder did on his metal legs
He has been abused for parking in a disabled bay
My point is,the cause of him having a badge is not always visible to for others to see,no matter how valid the reason

Leith Lassie - am confused on this road tax as apart from a visit to golf club for 9 holes of golf once a week the car is used for my needs. Hate to think we have been paying car tax and don't need to!

Can anyone enlighten me on this please? Possibly others would be interested.

If you are on high rate mobility DLA you can get free car tax plus you automatically qualify for a blue badge

jax

I believe there is an enormous amount of people who photo copy badges or who use relatives badges and stop people who are really disabled from using the available spaces. I work in Cardiff and see this on a daily basis. I dont think people realise that on the badge itself it states it is a criminal offence to mis-use a badge. England have introduced holograms which makes photo copying difficult, why cant we have this in wales ? and perhaps have the photo on the front as well, but this apparently is against human rights ! The only way to stop gross miss use of the badge is to severally fine a few who abuse the system, that will stop the many.
Sarah

If a badge is mis-used, the owner can lose all rights to have one. In 5 years I think I have had one - never been challenged or asked to turn it over to see photo.

My sister has a blue badge. I am almost sure she doesn't pay road tax on her car.

Is she under 65 Ann and receiving disability allownce? Rita - no problem.

I remember a police suoerintendent seeing some young people dash from their car into the local baths leaving the car in the disabled area with a sticker displayed.
He followed it up and got into big trouble cos they were entitled to use the pass as one of them had a hidden disability.

All is often not what it seems to be - or the exception proves the rule.

Happy days

When I'm occasionally taken to our 'out of town' supermarket - I neither have a child with me, nor am I disabled, I make a point, when walking past the 'baby parking' of looking in the cars to see how many have baby seats in them. Not many.
Okay the baby may be in their baby seat in thesupermarket, but if so, it seems there are an awful lot of one-baby families in my neighbourhood!!

I know a young man with one leg -he's entitled to a blue badge, but to see him, (when he's wearing his false leg) you wouldn't see his disability.

Likewise, my nephew has MS,and a blue badge. Usually he doesn't use the badge, but if he's having a bad phase, he does.
However, he walks from his car to the supermarket, as it's easier to push a trolley standing up, (as opposed to being in a wheelchair) and without a stick!!!

I have never had a good phase with MS unfortunatly mine just gets steadily worse, and I should go and get some photos done because there have been times when the blue badge would come in handy.
I remember meeting a chap with MS a couple of years ago he used to visit the pub/restuarant I worked in until I had to give it up. This man could stand at a bar for a couple of hours walk back and forth to the front door for a cigarette...but he had a blue badge and he made sure he used it when there were plenty of other spaces available not too far away.

jax

GP on many days my sister could do that although she would be in pain climbing the steps and in many stations there is not a choice. She would also suffer the next day. Other days she would not be able to do it at all. Maybe the lady is like that, or maybe she grits her teeth and walks to the train as she doesn't want to give up work and draw benefits. She may be swinging it but may be not. We can't know can we.

Chris Yes my sister is 64 receives DLA and has a blue badge.

As said previously , not all people look disabled. Diabetics can have a blue card but show no sign of illness, so you can't judge everyone the same.

I have just got the higher mobility of DLA so now get the car tax paid, we have two cars and instead of puttingit on my car did it on hubbies as that is the car that is used for me, daughter uses my car for work and going to college so would be wrong for her to have ti on her car.

Had blue badge for couple of years adn dr had to give statement on my condition.
Swimming pool has 8 disabled spaces and last night all spaces used 4 cars had no badges displayed.

Ive never been challenged on my badge.

None of them ever think, that there for the grace of God - go I.

Somewhere some time ago - could have been these boards where a person had slips of paper in her car and when she saw a car with no badge in a disabled space left a slip under wiper - it read - you have taken my space , would you like my disability.

Am thinking of typing some up.

An interesting discussion!

Has any one thought of blocking in non-badge holder's cars if you don't obstruct traffic in (eg supermarket) car parks? The inconvenience would make them think about doing it again!

Our large shopping centre employs Wardens for the acres of free carpark. Although one normally to groan at the Traffic Wardens, they are to be applauded when they clamp someone parking and not displaying a Blue Badge in a disabled bay.

My partner suffers from intermitent gout.We have no blue badge although we probably could have one because of my dad.If OH has attack of gout and so he has something to do that needs walking then,if I can,I will do it'

There is a street that is both disabled parking and loading.He had something to do that was specific to him so,cutting a bit of slack, I waited quietly in this nearby street.

I can't explain the detail but a family who had a blue badge, seeing my OH hobbling slowly back to the car,psychologically bullied me into moving further away,forcing himto turnaround and walk twice as far to be picked up.

No,I don't condone abusing the privilege but I was very taken aback by their atitude. Having a disabled family member,I do tend to sympathise with others who need to just encroach a little on the odd occasion.

I don't think I have made any sense at all.Can somebody explain to me what I mean?

Edinburgh Evening News should a photo last week of a parking warden who parked his scooter on double yellow lines, to go into a supermarket and do his shopping!!
Wonder if he is one of those who thinks he is entitled to park in mother & child/disabled soaces when he does his shopping with his oh?

Sharron it is OK your meaning was clear. You would expect a little bit of empathy especially if it was only going to be a couple of minutes.

It is a dog eat dog world out there and has become much worse over past years.

Compassion and understanding appear to be flying out of the window in many cases.