Blue Badge Problem - Help!

lyniced

I have had a Blue Badge for over 10 years and have ALWAYS, ALWAYS used it within the rules

Today my husband and I went to our local Blockbusters, parking outside, in a disabled bay, displaying our badge correctly. My husband went into Blockbusters to get ME a DVD to watch this evening. He was no more than 5 minutes and as he got back in the car (they didn't have the DVD I wanted to rent) a traffic warden came up to us and said that we had misused the Blue Badge and I would be reported to the Blue Badge People. The reason he gave was because my husband had used the badge to park and it wasn't for me.

I read the rules when I got home and it says -

Do not allow other people to use your badge to do something on your behalf such as shopping or collecting something for you, unless you are travelling with them.

As my husband was getting something for me, I can't see why we were wrong. Can he still report us? Do we have any rights? What can they do to us - I need a disabled badge and I rely on it as I have to use a wheelchair and getting in and out of the car requires a lot of space, which most parking spaces don't give. Incidentially, the reason I didn't get out of the car was because my back was going into spasms and it is quite painful to move.

Would appreciate your help.

dmg24

I wouldn't worry, given the rule you have quoted it should not be a problem. If your LA write to you, reply explaining what you have written here.

elvis86

Strictly speaking, you did misuse the badge though, if the blue badge applies to you and not your husband?

As it was only your husband getting out of the car, a regular parking space would have sufficed. Had another blue badge user turned up, they would have been deprived the (legitimate) use of the disabled space, because your able bodied husband wanted to be closer to the doors of Blockbuster..:cool:

IMO, your husband acted no better than a person using someone else's blue badge when they're not with them.

lyniced

elvis86 wrote: »

Strictly speaking, you did misuse the badge though, if the blue badge applies to you and not your husband?

As it was only your husband getting out of the car, a regular parking space would have sufficed. Had another blue badge user turned up, they would have been deprived the (legitimate) use of the disabled space, because your able bodied husband wanted to be closer to the doors of Blockbuster..:cool:

IMO, your husband acted no better than a person using someone else's blue badge when they're not with them.

Yes, but he was getting something for ME, not HIM

McKneff

lyniced wrote: »

Yes, but he was getting something for ME, not HIM

Doesnt make any difference,
So he might as well have just left you at home. The badge is for you so
you dont have to walk far to where you want to be. So the traffic
warden was correct.

To have used the Blue Badge correctly, you alone or you and your OH should have gone to the shop.

lyniced

McKneff wrote: »

Doesnt make any difference,
So he might as well have just left you at home. The badge is for you so
you dont have to walk far to where you want to be. So the traffic
warden was correct.

To have used the Blue Badge correctly, you alone or you and your OH should have gone to the shop.

Even though it says unless you are trvelling with them

elvis86

lyniced wrote: »

Yes, but he was getting something for ME, not HIM

What has that got to do with it? You remained sat in the car, therefore you could (and I would argue, should) have been parked in a regular bay, leaving the disabled bay for someone who genuinely needed use of it at that time.

By your logic, your husband could go out on his own, and use your blue badge anywhere he fancied, just so long as he was "picking something up for you". If that's your definition of:

lyniced wrote: »

I have had a Blue Badge for over 10 years and have ALWAYS, ALWAYS used it within the rules

, then I think you deserve to get in trouble!

dmg24

McKneff wrote: »

Doesnt make any difference,
So he might as well have just left you at home. The badge is for you so
you dont have to walk far to where you want to be. So the traffic
warden was correct.

To have used the Blue Badge correctly, you alone or you and your OH should have gone to the shop.

If the following is correct, there is no reason why the OP's husband should not have used the space:

lyniced wrote: »

I read the rules when I got home and it says -

Do not allow other people to use your badge to do something on your behalf such as shopping or collecting something for you, unless you are travelling with them.

lyniced

I am wondering if he had time to write down the badge number as he only glanced at the badge once. Anyway, I really don't feel I was wrong and will quote the above line if anything happens.

Many people misuse badges (I've heard of a guy who uses his nans badge to park when he's at work) and these are the serious offenders.

McKneff

lyniced wrote: »

Even though it says unless you are trvelling with them

I have to admit, that little bit alone is a bit ambiguous but you have to apply some common sense, no offence intended.
When you write to them point that out to them and you just might get a
warning,

Gooe luck.

lyniced

elvis86 wrote: »

What has that got to do with it? You remained sat in the car, therefore you could (and I would argue, should) have been parked in a regular bay, leaving the disabled bay for someone who genuinely needed use of it at that time.

By your logic, your husband could go out on his own, and use your blue badge anywhere he fancied, just so long as he was "picking something up for you". If that's your definition of:



, then I think you deserve to get in trouble!

Thank you so much for your concern!!!!! I) thought there were meant to be helpful people on here.