Parking ticket in Asda car park - Is this legal, can they take me to court?

IvanOpinion

The problem with the disabled badge system is that over the years it has become totally abused .. it now appears that in some places you can get a badge if you have an ingrown toenail or easier still you just buy one at a car boot sale. It is amazing how many people one sees parking in a disabled bay, putting their badge on the dashboard and then virtually jogging into the shopping centre (especially if it is raining .. its always strange to watch someone hoist the crutches or walking sticks up under their arm and make a run for it).

Maybe these people are entitled to a badge, maybe they have 'good days' and 'bad days' ... however it appears that many of them have more 'good days' than 'bad days' but still use the spaces on their 'good days' .. given that they should be more aware of the problems related to disability one would think that they, of all people, would only use the space on their 'bad days' ... however I think the usual laziness and 'I have a badge' sets in over courtesy for others.

Ivan

JohnInDebt

Don't get me started on "people" parking in disabled and Mother & Toddler bays :mad:

It's not just the bay's, it's also the 'Pick-Up Point' outside supermarkets where people leave their cars and go shopping. It's called a 'PICK UP POINT' the clue is in the name!!!

Although I did have the fortune to hear a conversation between a van driver & the parking attendant who gave him a £60 fine for parking in a Mother & Toddler parking bay in Tesco's, that made my day :T

morveryn

IvanOpinion wrote:

The problem with the disabled badge system is that over the years it has become totally abused .. it now appears that in some places you can get a badge if you have an ingrown toenail or easier still you just buy one at a car boot sale. It is amazing how many people one sees parking in a disabled bay, putting their badge on the dashboard and then virtually jogging into the shopping centre (especially if it is raining .. its always strange to watch someone hoist the crutches or walking sticks up under their arm and make a run for it).

Maybe these people are entitled to a badge, maybe they have 'good days' and 'bad days' ... however it appears that many of them have more 'good days' than 'bad days' but still use the spaces on their 'good days' .. given that they should be more aware of the problems related to disability one would think that they, of all people, would only use the space on their 'bad days' ... however I think the usual laziness and 'I have a badge' sets in over courtesy for others.

Ivan

I agree that the system is open to abuse and has been abused. Unfortunately there are always a few indivinduals who have to take advantage and spoil things for those in genuine need. I have never run in the rain or hoisted up my stick, I can't. With regard to people who have 'good & bad days' like myself - I have rheumatoid arthritis, I am in pain everyday & struggle to get around, thats on a good day!

It does annoy me that some people seem to think if you aren't in a wheelchair the you aren't properly disabled. Some days I can barely walk but while I still can, I will.
Unless you know the blue badge holder personally, you won't know their situation, what is wrong with them or how much their life has had to change because of their disability.

It does seem easy to get a Blue Badge, I don't know what its like in other areas but I just had to fill out a form & write my medical condition & within a few days I got my badge. They didn't even check with my doctor or the hospital (as far as I know)!

Mirtos

cosyc wrote:

On Friday my husband popped to Asda to get some cash out of the mini bank. As it was raining he parked nearest the machine in a disabled bay (I know he shouldn't have done this, but it was raining and car park was not mega busy). When he returned to his car it had a parking ticket on.

At first he thought it was a joke, so when he got back to work rang Asda who said it nothing to do with them, the car park is run by a private company and they have notices up with there terms on.

So they (Town and City Parking Ltd based in Scotland) issued a civil penalty notice demanding £20 payable within 10 days or becomes £40 after. It states - failure to respond will lead to civil action being taken for penalty and judicial expenses occurered. All verythreatening.

So is this legal or just a con to try to obtain money from us and other like us?

How will they find out who we are from the registration number would DVLA disclose this to a private company.

Any one come across this before?

Look, if you were disabled and couldn't do your shopping because someone inconsiderate had parked in a disabled bay you'd be furious! I spent some time having to use disabled car parking with my gran, and it ruined the day when perfectly able bodied people stopped her from being able to park because they were too lazy to walk the extra 20 feet! If you are lucky enough that you don't need disabled parking, then you shouldn't use it. Hopefully, this fine will help you/ your husband remember what it costs others when you carelessly use parking that they NEED.

Ok. Rant over. I don't mean to be rude or aggressive, but I think so many people disregard disabled only signs 'just for five minutes' or because it's raining, or whatever, without realising that they are personally damaging someone elses ability to live a 'normal' life.

lisyloo

So is this legal or just a con to try to obtain money from us and other like us?

It's not a con but YES, it is meant to penalise someone selfish like your husband.

Disabled people would love to have the choice of walking in the dry or the rain, but they DON'T HAVE A CHOICE and he is removing a NECESSITY from them.

Mirtos

headcovers wrote:

Why does everyone assume that just because one chooses not to have children that one's life will somehow be incomplete. I have fought this prejudice all my life.

I don't have children and there isn't a day I don't thank God for that fact!

....especially as I gaze out at my 2 sport coupes on the drive. :rotfl:

Oh for goodness sake! What a wonderful legacy to leave behind on this earth - excessive air pollution, tyres in landfill, and two rusting husks. You must be so proud.

lisyloo

What a wonderful legacy to leave behind on this earth - excessive air pollution, tyres in landfill, and two rusting husks. You must be so proud.

and people without kids don't have cars???

doingwhatican

I do agree with the disabled parking bays - but only if used by a driver that is disabled. I don't agree with passengers having badges getting the driver to park in a disabled bay. I think that it should only be the driver that is allowed to park there only if they have the disabled badge.
Parent and baby spaces - grrrrr, I see so many people who have a car seat in their car but no child, and they still park in these spaces !!!

lisyloo

I do agree with the disabled parking bays - but only if used by a driver that is disabled.

I can't agree with you here at all.
My mother-in-law is disabled through server arthritis.
Not only is she physically incapable of driving but believe me - you don't want her on our roads (she's 79 - but her sense of awareness and speed of reactions means she'd be a dreadful driver).

Are you seriously suggesting that she doesn't go out i.e. her husband can't even take her to the doctors.

The buses are no good for her because (as seen on TV) may of them don't know how to use the ramps and the drivers often drive off before waiting for very slow disabled and elderly people to sit down meaning she is in danger of being thrown or falling (she has fallen 3 times and is vulerable).

Do you expect disabled people to stay at home all day?

How do they get to the doctors/hospital if no-one is allowed to drive them?

I don't understand the justification for your disabled passenger not being allowed to use bays.

Grumpy_Old_Duffer

I took my Mother to our local Sainsbury's and drove round-and-round looking for a space, eventually parking in a Mother & Child space (there were loads of these empty spaces).

My Mother, being 85 and of the 'old school' said "you can't park there", then I pointed-out to her that she was my Mother and I was her child, albeit, she was 85 & I was 54!!

By definition, I considered I was entitled to park in one of these bays!!!;)