Disabled driver's fine fury

Deborah Linton

September 02, 2008

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Terence Hodson

A DISABLED driver received a £35 parking fine - despite leaving his car in a disabled spot and showing his blue badge.

Terence Hodson has been a disabled badge holder for 10 years and has never been in trouble with traffic wardens before.

But Oldham council fined him for failing to display the correct time he left the car in the bay in New Radcliffe Street car park.

Mr Hodson, 70, from Higher Blackley, said the ticket was issued just moments after he left the car to go into Oldham town centre.

He had dropped his wife, Margaret 64 - who has had a disabled badge since 1980 - at her sister's house.

Oldham now says it will write-off the penalty, after being contacted by the M.E.N.

Mr Hodson, a retired decorator who suffers from arthritis, said: "I did exactly as we have done for years. It is not always clear whether you have to set the clock on your permit - in other off-street car parks and at supermarkets, for example, they do not tend to enforce it.

"I thought the same applied here and it felt very unfair to come back and find a ticket. I looked at the time it was issued and I must have only just walked away."

Off-street car parks are governed by their own rules as set by the owners of the land, rather than the government blue badge scheme.

A council spokesman said: "To date we have not been contacted by the owner of the vehicle.

"Once he provides evidence in writing that he is a legitimate holder of a disabled parking permit, the fine will be written-off."

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Tezza, Tyldesley (03/09/2008 at 07:43)

He knew the rules and so should pay the fine, he even says that himself

“It is not always clear whether you have to set the clock on your permit” I thought the same applied here and it felt very unfair to come back and find a ticket”

Well you know what thought did?

My own uncle got a ticket last week for having his blue badge displayed upside down, and I told him that it was his own fault and he should pay it.

The story appears to say that it is his wife who has the blue badge and she was not even in the car at the time, I thought that the badge holder should be in the vehicle while using it?

I agree that blue badge holders should get both larger and specially positioned spaces within car parks but I fail to understand WHY they don’t have to pay for there car parking. Being disabled does not stop you from putting money in a machine.

The stupid part of this story is the weak and feeble council who say “Once he provides evidence in writing that he is a legitimate holder of a disabled parking permit, the fine will be written-off” well you fools he had a badge in the window, that he failed to display correctly so make the fine stand and I will tell you one thing HE WONT DO IT AGAIN.

The blue badge scheme is a mess and is abused by many who have badges…

midway, West Germany (03/09/2008 at 08:00)

Anyone get a badge.I was even offered one while on Holiday there.

BillyJ (03/09/2008 at 09:42)

Tezza, Tyldesley
3/09/2008 at 07:43 The one point that I would strongly agree on is;-
The blue badge scheme is a mess and is abused by many who have badges…
I have seen family members use a badge. The cards has to be placed picture down so a warden can not be certain that it is the card holder that is using the badge. The only person who is empowered to check the badge is a police officer, NOT a warden! Missuse is rife and gives us genuine users a bad name. There are people in the City that use family members badges daily to save parking fees. I know that there has been a clamp down on counterfit badges but these are genuine badges just not used by the correct people!
I als agree with your post :-when you are issued with a badge it is your resposibility to use correctly. I also agree that this man should pay the fine, it doesnt take 5 minutes to check the information board to see what is required. In fact in his own words he uses the car park regulaly! I use my badge and always check on the car park information board for the precise reson this guy says, its not the same in every car park.

However on one point I do not agree :-
I fail to understand WHY they don’t have to pay for there car parking. Being disabled does not stop you from putting money in a machine.
It does however stop me from using public transport, stops me from being able to walk, and stops me from working and getting a decent wage. If I had to pay to park everywhere I go I would not be able to afford to go out. I would agree though that there are some very rich people that happen to be disabled, and these can well afford to pay. Disability does not in itself mean that someone cant work or is poor! Perhaps a fairer system would be means tested?

Ace Shakepseare, manchester (03/09/2008 at 09:56)

As a blue badge holder i think people who use the badge without the holder being with the car should have the car clamped the badge is for disabled not the lazy.I see lots of people in jags and big four by fours full of kids going shopping and you know they are just using a mates badge or their relations badge,its time that the car reg plate had a blue stripe on it to tell the wardens that the badge belongs to that car.Isee the badge system abused daily and the spaces used by young idiots who think its smart to park in disabled spaces....

Mike S, Manchester (03/09/2008 at 10:00)

Once he provides evidence that he is a legimate holder of a disabled badge - is the council being sneaky here? According to the report, it's his wife, not him, who is the holder of the badge.

As for the "I wasn't sure whether you have to set the clock" - Rubbish. If in doubt, do it. Make him pay!

Tezza, Tyldesley (03/09/2008 at 11:07)

BillyJ

You say that “The only person who is empowered to check the badge is a police officer, NOT a warden!”

Surely if you are on a private car park then the person who owns the car park (or his representative) has the right to check the badge is valid. And if not then fine you for using it.

I do believe that some councils (not many now) do charge disabled drivers for parking, if this were the case at more, and then it would cut down the number of people using them fraudulently as these people main reason for doing it is to save money.

You say that having a disability does stop you from being able to walk, but you must be able to get to your car and then get to the shops so you would be able to get to the pay machine, and I am sure that many people who are not disabled struggle to pay car parking fees.

We have just been told that disabled drivers will not have to pay the congestion charge, this will inevitability cause a rise in the number of fraudulently used badges as people will “borrow” someone’s badge to use to save money.

A better system in my view would be to charge badge holders to come in to the zones and if they have a legitimate claim then they can claim it back. If a disabled person works within the zone then they should get a reduction on the amount they pay, after all why should someone who has no choice but to drive in ( i.e. public transport not available at there start time) have to pay when the person at the next desk gets it for free?

Compo, Wythenshawe (03/09/2008 at 11:38)

On the back of my Disabled Person’s Parking Disc it states,
For use by the registered holder only
This disc can only be used with a valid Blue Badge
Check traffic signs and loading restrictions
SET THE DISC at time of arrival.
When I go out I always set the time even if I know I will be only 5min.
ITS COMMON SENSE do it every time you park then you won’t need the MEN to get you off you fine.

BillyJ (03/09/2008 at 11:51)

Surely if you are on a private car park then the person who owns the car park (or his representative) has the right to check the badge is valid. And if not then fine you for using it.

No, only a police officer can legaly force you to show the badge, it is a legal document. A car park owner, or their representatives, are only after all only members of the public. It might seem unjust, but this is the law. Even local authority parking wardens do not have the right to ask to check your badge. The law needs changing or else abuse of the system can not go unchallenged. There are many wesites that will give you this information, eg yourable.com, check them out. I can assure you I am correct, but think it is toally wrong!

BillyJ (03/09/2008 at 12:04)

You say that having a disability does stop you from being able to walk, but you must be able to get to your car and then get to the shops so you would be able to get to the pay machine, and I am sure that many people who are not disabled struggle to pay car parking fees.
I may be able to get to my car, and the shops, but have to rely on aids to do so. My disability is such that I can not walk more than a few steps unaided. I am unable to get on a bus and there are no trams in my area. Yes there are other people that strugle to pay parking, but is their car use unavoidable, as mine is? You seem to resent the disabled geting any help towards making their lives a little more easy.
I agree that the abuse of the system is deplorable, however living with a real disability is not easy and not something I would wish on anyone.

Viewer of Life, Stockport (03/09/2008 at 12:08)

Another non story.
In other off-street car parks and at supermarkets, for example, they do not tend to enforce it.
Not much of a defence!!!

Bean B4, manchester (03/09/2008 at 12:23)

Can't help smiling. They get a badge that allows free parking almost anywhere and they still can't be bothered to set the time properly.

Pippa, Manchester (03/09/2008 at 12:43)

My father in law has a blue badge - he can barely walk due to arthritis. As he does not own a car, it is only used occasionally when he is with a family member. As a result, none of us are ever sure whether we should set the time or not. So we always do - why couldn't Mr Hodson. I'm afraid it's his own fault and Oldham Council shouldn't write off the fine. Sorry mate.

LittleMancMinx, Ashton Under Lyne (03/09/2008 at 12:44)

The majority of Traffic Wardens are jobs worth any way! Every night when I come out of work I see a dozen of them hanging round the single yellow lines and around 2 minutes before 4.30 you will see them begin to issue there tickets!

I got a ticket outside my own house when unloading my shopping because I live right near the town centre people use my street to park so they dont have to pay in the car park oposite!

Fedup, Mersyside (03/09/2008 at 12:50)

The man made a mistake... he seems genuine not like the people who use their disabled mums badge and parks outside the shop and causes an obstruction in the main st. At least most genuine badge holders try to keep some self respect and walk when they can

Tezza, Tyldesley (03/09/2008 at 12:59)

BillyJ

I do not resent disabled people getting help to make there lives better but as you yourself point out the system is abused by certain people.

I have just been to the shops and have seen people with badges jump out of there cars and run into the shop, and while I am not stupid enough to think that every disabled person is bed ridden, It would appear that the mentality of some badge holders is “ I have a badge so I can park there” even though on certain days they may not need to park there and they take up the space for the genuinely (sorry not the right word but I cant think of any other way to put it) disabled person.

At a supermarket near me the disabled spaces are further away than the “Normal “spaces so in that respect it just defeats the object.

I know someone who has a disabled child and yet they use the badge whenever they go shopping, (even when the child is not with them) these are the sort of people who give badge holders a bad name.

But after all that I still can’t understand why all disabled badge holdes don’t pay for there parking, (as you must agree not all badge holders are out of work and on the breadline) and no one can give me a good enough reason perhaps we need a two tier system?

And it would appear that the council in question is bowing to media pressure

Marc (03/09/2008 at 13:30)

Ace, you're surprisingly sensible today. you feeling alright?

Ace Shakepseare, manchester (03/09/2008 at 13:43)

Marc
I must stop taking these pills mark.

Polky (03/09/2008 at 14:00)

I just renewed my road tax on-line and not only are you automagically entered into a competition, they can somehow determine from your car registration whether you are insured and MOTed.

Surely cars registered to disabled drivers could have an entry on this database as well?

Like insurance (I am able to drive another car on my policy) the driver would then have a badge to flash should they be out with another car.

Just my $0.02

Marc (03/09/2008 at 15:42)

'I must stop taking these pills mark.'

i agree. you haven't mentioned the birch once on this story! ;)

neil sk6 (03/09/2008 at 22:24)

I agree with a lot of post here, many blue badge holders are abusing the system, I went for a walk the other day in my local park, I went past a car parked up with a blue badge in the window and about 1 hour later when I returned there was an old couple putting there dog in the car after talking him for a walk........why have they got a badge they can walk far enough!!!!

Still Fedup, Mersyside (04/09/2008 at 12:38)

just a thought: if blue badge holders had to pay on a carpark would they use it or would they park on yellow lines like they can for free.
This is the only reason I can think of for not paying on a pay carpark.

Jomov (04/09/2008 at 12:57)

Still fedup, why shouldn't they pay, don't they get free cars? That's a huge saving to them isn't it. Parden me if I'm wrong but I knew a woman who's parents did.

alvinlwh (04/09/2008 at 13:32)

These "disabled" drivers thinks just because they have a blue badge, they can do what they want.

CityCntr (04/09/2008 at 14:16)

Still fedup, why shouldn't they pay, don't they get free cars? That's a huge saving to them isn't it. Parden me if I'm wrong but I knew a woman who's parents did.
Jomov

No they dont get free cars, they only qualify for Mobility if they reach a certain criteria. Then they pay a minimum of £50 per week for the lease of the vehicle. Its an urban myth that they get free cars. There is plenty of information about it on the Governments benefits website and your info is at least for real

Ace Shakepseare, manchester (04/09/2008 at 15:16)

alvinlwh
No they dont,Most people with blue badges need them like myself who has trouble walking because of lung problems.If you ask most disabled drivers they would swap you their badges for good legs and other problems they have.Try and consider these spaces when you park without badges,you could be making life difficult for some people.

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