Grrr - blue badge

lilwatchergirl

daska wrote: »

Not according to motability and their insurance company it wouldn't

Agreed. My partner doesn't do this (has own car), but I raised this question with Motability when we briefly thought about giving up the other car. It's perfectly allowable for the 'named driver' to drive to work, go off somewhere without the primary driver, etc. It didn't used to be allowed, but it is now.

lilwatchergirl

To clarify: my partner DOES NOT EVER use my blue badge. That is illegal regardless of whether a person is a named driver on a motability scheme or not.

I was disabled long before I got a blue badge, but I didn't ever use a blue badge-designated space until I had a badge. I firmly believed that I didn't have the right - even in a private car park, where the rules are more 'vague', or at least less stringently enforced by owners.

tenacioust123

So it would invalidate the tax but not the insurance?

daska

According to motability it wouldn't invalidate the tax if it's the main carer who needs to use it for work so that they can get back in case of emergency...

daska

I think you're missing the point a tad. I'm complaining about the car parks that are imposing the 'no parking in the disabled bays unless you have a tax free disc. It is inherently unfairer to disabled people on a low income because the lower your income the less able you are to afford to run a car solely for the benefit of the disabled person.

And as I also pointed out, you can get a blue badge for not being able to operate a parking meter (not HRM therefore no free tax disc), how daft is it that those same people can't park in the disabled bays in car parks?

I actually have little problem with the principle of paying for the tax disc, other than the problem of affording it(!), it's the lack of understanding of the implications of the rules that makes me see red.

There are, as you say, some families who breed like rabbits, live off benefits as a lifestyle choice and are jealous of those of us who accomplish more with our lives - I know, my stepdaughter's mum is one of them. However, I'm one of the lot who studied hard, retrained as necessary had a good income £40K+ and then became disabled. I was provident, I saved, in fact I saved a lot! That's now exhausted - largely due to a combination of the above person getting legal aid and SS reneging on their promise to support us during the residency case that they forced us to enter into... she also continued claming benefits, fraudulently, which has prevented OH qualifying for HRP towards his pension (another silly rule: you can request a transfer of HRP if you were living with the claimant, but not if the claimant was fraudulently claiming CB and thereby stopping you from claiming the benefit and qualifying in your own right).

P4ula

daska wrote: »

I think you're missing the point a tad. I'm complaining about the car parks that are imposing the 'no parking in the disabled bays unless you have a tax free disc. It is inherently unfairer to disabled people on a low income because the lower your income the less able you are to afford to run a car solely for the benefit of the disabled person.

And as I also pointed out, you can get a blue badge for not being able to operate a parking meter (not HRM therefore no free tax disc), how daft is it that those same people can't park in the disabled bays in car parks?

As we have found out from our local law centre and the local press who investigated, it is quite lawful for this to happen, chiefly because legally the Blue Badge Scheme only applies on a road NOT in car parks etc.

Rich or poor etc is irrelevant, its the law I am afraid and owners of car parks can introduce more or less any scheme they want to such as supplying their own badges to use their car parks etc or ruling that only disabled taxed vehicles can park, Providing they do not discriminate against disabled people by such as charging disabled people more than able bodied, then they are perfectly lawful. I don't agreee with it before anyone says so. Unfortunately, I cannot see their being any political will to change this either.

Same with councils who only let disabled tax disc holders park free on their car parks. Again perfectly legal becase it is on a car park. The only way is to lobby your councilors to change it but I cannot see them wanting to lose any more income.

The only other way is to vote with your feet (or wheelchair) and park elsewhere such as on a road where the blue badge does apply but park within the rules though.

Paula

daska

P4ula wrote: »

As we have found out from our local law centre and the local press who investigated, it is quite lawful for this to happen, chiefly because legally the Blue Badge Scheme only applies on a road NOT in car parks etc.

Rich or poor etc is irrelevant, its the law I am afraid and owners of car parks can introduce more or less any scheme they want to such as supplying their own badges to use their car parks etc or ruling that only disabled taxed vehicles can park, Providing they do not discriminate against disabled people by such as charging disabled people more than able bodied, then they are perfectly lawful. I don't agreee with it before anyone says so. Unfortunately, I cannot see their being any political will to change this either.

Same with councils who only let disabled tax disc holders park free on their car parks. Again perfectly legal becase it is on a car park. The only way is to lobby your councilors to change it but I cannot see them wanting to lose any more income.

The only other way is to vote with your feet (or wheelchair) and park elsewhere such as on a road where the blue badge does apply but park within the rules though.

Paula

I know it's legal, it doesn't make it fair - I just want to have a good whinge about it. I am right about this rule discriminating against lower income households - and that has nothing to do with the principles behind paying for tax discs, or qualifying for a blue badge/HRM or the principles behind means-tested benefits.

N.B. Our local council has upped the restrictions on the layby in only bit of road in the town centre where we used to be able to park to 'no stopping at any time'.

Emmaizzy

Also adding to this thread.....

I have a son with mobility problem and is registered blind. When we park until my son starts to walk you cannot tell his is disabled. I have been approached many times by people. I have either asked them what they are suggesting, ie, that I am parking illegally, or have said that I wish my son wasn't blind and was fully mobile so I didn't need the badge. That usually shuts people up.

However, on the other hand if people don't challenge you then I guess there's an argument that we let people get away with unacceptable behaviour - like the litter throwers who think they can do what they want - selfishly.

So perhaps if people challenge us in future we should thank them for being so vigliant for disabled people which if you think about it is what they are doing though perhaps in the wrong way which is taken offensively by myself and other blue badge holders.

To all you who think it's acceptable to park in a disabled space without a badge - SHAME ON YOU. If you need one you will get one.

Brmbaz44

Is it true that you still have to display a valid pay & display ticket in NHS disabled car parks even if you are displaying the Blue Badge & Time badge.The car park was Royal Shrewsbury Hospital run by CP-Plus Ltd.your thoughts please. Brmbaz

daska

Brmbaz44 wrote: »

Is it true that you still have to display a valid pay & display ticket in NHS disabled car parks even if you are displaying the Blue Badge & Time badge.The car park was Royal Shrewsbury Hospital run by CP-Plus Ltd.your thoughts please. Brmbaz

Yes, here is a link to that hospital's rules, it is. This is common with lots of hospitals. They do have a few 20 minute disabled bays if you're being dropped off. We get around rules like that by my husband going in and requesting a porter to take me to my appointments.