Any advice on Disabled parking, blue badges and service stations etc

Richard_T_

Sorry if this is the worng place to ask....

In the next few days I shall be driving some distance, mostly on the motorway network, with a pasenger who has mobility problems/issues ( recently diagnosed with parkinsons)
This person can just about walk ( very slowly) but requires some help in getting in and out of a car as the doors need to be open all the way.

Heres where the problems start - due to what can best be described as personal pride this person has not had a blue badge, and has only recenlty been persuaded to apply for one after advice from their doctor. ( apparently this may take a while to process/arrive)

Heres the questions:
Would we be able to use a disabled space, at motorway service areas, and supermarket car parks without a blue badge?
Would it be better to straddle two normal spaces ( as the car door needs to be fully opened ) ?
Or would it be better to use a disabled bay as a drop off point to help the person out, and then park elsewhere to avoid a fine?
Or just do as i am doing at the moment and leaving the pasenger in the car all alone whilst I go and get them a takewqay drink and a sandwich ( being diagnosed with parkinsons on top of cancer ( stable at the moment touch wood) hasnt been the best Christmas present and we suspect that there may be a little depression as well linked in with it all.

Apologies if this is a waste of time, as it doesnt appear to match the majority of things on this sub forum - but thanks for taking the time to read it.

Redx

its a difficult one, because these places you are parking on are on private land, so the BB does not apply !

they have BB spaces due to conforming to the Equality Act 2010 , so in theory if the person is disabled then they can use a BB space under the act, and the BB is NOT a requirement for parking and never is on private land , coupon-mad can help more on this aspect and probably will advise you better than I can !!

if you straddled 2 spaces , they would issue a ticket for "not parking within the marked bay), which they are entitled to do on private land, possibly even on public land too

if you dropped the person off in the disable bay, they "may" still issue a ticket if they have spy cameras or wardens on, despite the persons disablement being a factor

basically, they may issue a ticket just because there is a Y in the day !! its that simple

so in theory your friend is covered by the equality act 2010 , but the PPC`s take a blinkered view of this if no BB is on show

its a difficult one to call, but I feel you may get ticketed and then have to fight it at a later date, it has already happened and will continue to happen , as these people do not realise they are discriminating when they do this, because they are asking for proof, and disabled people have the right to not have to prove anything at all

dont know if this helps or not, but if CM replies you will get a better answer

regards

ps:- the sticky thread has more info on this (the NEWBIES thread) but here is the link from it

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63814146#Comment_63814146

pps:- its not a "waste of time" if it prevents you or them getting a ticket and having the added stress of fighting it when these PPC`s and POPLA tend to ignore it as its mitigation which they tend to ignore

you can also see the stress they put a BB holder under in this thread here about Meadowhall https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4839418

or this one at the same place earlier http://forums.pepipoo.com/index.php?showtopic=75213

or another one https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4849475

mum2one

I really think you could be stuck if you park even to drop off as at some service stations these can be "policed" by parking attendants,

What we have to do sometimes, (my mums disabled as well as me), both have BB, if I'm driving and all the disabled parking is full, I drop her as close as I can to the exit, then go and park, and on return pick her up. We have to do that process at the local hospital as even disabled parking is away from the main entrance.

No - its not a waste of time asking, better to have a rough idea from others experiences etc.

Hope the journey goes ok xxx

Redx

if all the BB spaces are full you have the right to park in a space NOT designated as for BB holders , under the Equality Act 2010 , BUT again these "parking police" tend to ride roughshod over those details in favour of their petty rules which may insist that a BB holder must park in a marked bay, which is an illegal rule

forgotmyname

When taking the inlaws out i have used BB spaces without a bluebadge. She required a wheelchair but never applied for a badge as they didnt have a car.

I wouldnt do the same in a council carpark though. And when we did apply for a badge i only used it once or twice. Worried about getting a ticket. Would rather pay to be safe.

Redx

there is no requirement for a BB holder to own a car or be able to drive, my mum had no car and had never driven one but was a BB holder up until she passed away in 2012

any able bodied person can use a BB holder to "protect" their vehicle when on "official business" with the actual holder themselves, like taking them to the bank or the doctors/dentists or a hospital appointment , the caveat being that they are doing it solely for the BB holder to go about their lawful business, ie: taking them shopping or for appointments etc

its when people abuse the BB system by using it for their own personal use that the system is abused, as was seen on tv a few weeks ago when the supercar was parked outside harrods and the BB holder wasnt present , nor that woman with the expensive SUV who said her mum was inside the store but was actually at home when the enforcement team phoned her up !!

HO87

To clarify some of the advice being given here.

The Blue Badge Scheme has no legal relevance on private land being intended to be used on the street and in council-managed car parks. That said, landowners may choose to use BB's as a means of identifying those to whom they need to make "reasonable adjustments" for to conform to the requirements of the Equality Act. However, by no means do all of those entitled to "reasonable adjustments" under the EqA have, or are even entitled to, BB's and this is where many landowners fall down (and PPC's with them).

Simply because you are unable to display a BB does not mean that you - or your passengers - are not entitled to "reasonable adjustment" and as soon as the landowner (or their agent) becomes aware of a need then they should make the necessary adjustments whether that means allowing extra time, level access or more space. On that basis, on arriving at garage/service area letting staff know that you have issues should prevent any unfortunate developments.

To be clear, the EqA does not make specific provision for you to use another parking space if all BB spaces are taken even if it requires that reasonable adjustments be made for someone with protected characteristics.

Our resident EqA expert, Coupon-Mad, will be along shortly I'm sure.

Richard_T_

Thanks for the advice, looks like it will be a case of "needs must"
If i do get a ticket, hopefuly the parking companies or service station staff will see sense/show some understanding when the situation is explained to them.

Redx

if they do, it will be the first time ever !

maybe you could use a note like trubster used in sheffield, making them aware from the outset, taking pictures using a camera or mobile phone etc

hope for the best, but assume the worst , because these shysters look for any excuse to raise the stakes in this "game"

the free or cheap parking is entrapment as they lull members of the public into a false sense of security but meanwhile are plotting to raise the stakes up to approx £100 for breaking their "rules"

as can be seen from the scenario in Haworth where prankster checked it out himself, the minute the parked motorist disappears they jump out and check the ticket and the parked car for any breach, hoping they can find one and issue a larger PCN because of it, greed overtakes compassion !!

Richard_T_

Again thanks, will seee what happens.
Ive had a few of these tickets in the past ( a long time ago ) for silly things such as not parking fully within the bay, and a few minutes overstay. Paid a few early ones but ignored them all since.
Im aware of the changes, but at the end of the day parking oficers/parking contracters etc are customer facing and should show some understanding and inteligence when things are explained to them after all with todays social media ( twitter etc etc) no company will want their reputation trashing as a result of what their contracters do.

Redx

the many complaints on this very forum would indicate otherwise !

you only have to look at the Aldi saga to see that what you have just wished for is a pipedream in many cases, including the fact that trubster had to put in a counter claim LBA etc before getting justice in the Meadowhall incident

your theory is all well and good, but too many people come on here fighting unjust charge notices, many of whom have a reasonable story or argument but struggle to prevail against the jobsworths and the ignorant staff who usually do not know the laws never mind follow them , you only have to look at KFC on the Peel Centre near me to see it in action on a daily basis

I am sure there are dozens of cases where this forum and pepipoo has helped where they had a just case but were being hounded for payment by uncaring PPC,s and Debt Collectors , every day brings new cases onto this forum, so to me your caring words and missives dont hold water against the rising tide of injustice seen on here every week - sorry to say

ps:- just remembered , the one brought against a disabled member called lainieee is probably the worst example I have seen on here ( I assume you missed that recent but dreadful saga ? ) https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4802567

or the various ones about THE RANGE where elderly or disabled people get tickets even if the place is closed ? (check this site and pranksters blogs)