Parked in Hospital Disabled Bay

Johno100

antrobus wrote: »

All very well. But how is the hospital supposed to know what disabilities your mum and friend suffer from? All they can see is a car parked in a disabled space that isn't displaying a blue badge. How are they supposed to tell the difference between you and a 100% chancer?

It's just common sense really.:)

To be frank that is the hospitals problem. Or to be more precise the private parking company who are probably paying a pretty penny to get the chance to 'manage' the car park for them, while keeping any money they manage to screw out of the ill, worried well and recently bereaved.

antrobus

Johno100 wrote: »

To be frank that is the hospitals problem. Or to be more precise the private parking company who are probably paying a pretty penny to get the chance to 'manage' the car park for them, while keeping any money they manage to screw out of the ill, worried well and recently bereaved.

To be even franker it's the OP's problem. They are the one who has the hassle of fighting those penalty charges.

There has to be some mechanism for dealing with idiots who park in disabled car spaces. Applying for a blue badge is the mechanism that exists. Now the OP is left to go through exactly the same process of demonstrating that they were entitled to park there in order to beat the charge.

Johno100

antrobus wrote: »

To be even franker it's the OP's problem. They are the one who has the hassle of fighting those penalty charges.

There has to be some mechanism for dealing with idiots who park in disabled car spaces. Applying for a blue badge is the mechanism that exists. Now the OP is left to go through exactly the same process of demonstrating that they were entitled to park there in order to beat the charge.

They are not penalty charges they are private parking charges.

And again Blue Badges have no standing in private car parks, it says so in black and white in the booklet that comes with the blue badge.

NeilCr

Johno100 wrote: »

To be frank that is the hospitals problem. Or to be more precise the private parking company who are probably paying a pretty penny to get the chance to 'manage' the car park for them, while keeping any money they manage to screw out of the ill, worried well and recently bereaved.

But, of course, some hospitals don’t work that way. This is from my local trust

“All income from our parking charges, after running costs and car park maintenance and improvements, is reinvested by the Trust into supporting patient care at East Kent Hospitals.

We do not profit share with any 3rd party private operator, although we do use systems and equipment provided by an accredited car park management service provider.”

I think we all get that blue badges have no legal standing at hospitals. The thing is, practically, there don’t seem to be any suggestions of a better way of doing it. Personally, whilst acknowledging the legal position, I have no problem with my hospital using blue badges as a way of controlling very tight parking.

sheramber

Blue Badges have no standing in that the private car park owner does not need to honour them.

However, this hospital car management do honour them by providing parking spaces specifically for Blue Badge holders and not charging for them. However, a condition of parking in one of these spaces is to display a Blue Badge.

Without a Blue Badge on display there is ni confirmation that the car is entitled to park there.

There is also no proof now who was in the car or that they were disabled. Anybody could claim that afterwards.

It would have caused the OP much less hassle if the disabled person had applied for a badge than he is having now.

[Deleted User]

lstiore wrote: »

why are we special? well my assumption was based on the high level of disability from my mum and my friend of whom this is all about. They never applied for a BB but are on DLA and/or receive a form of home care.

Anyone on DLA will get a blue badge automatically (in Scotland anyway) so there's no excuse for not getting one. If they don't 'want' to get one invite them to pay your legitimate parking fines.

Ames

Colin_Maybe wrote: »

Anyone on DLA will get a blue badge automatically (in Scotland anyway) so there's no excuse for not getting one. If they don't 'want' to get one invite them to pay your legitimate parking fines.

In England anyone on higher rate DLA mobility or who gets 8 points on the 'moving around' part of PIP gets an automatic entitlement to a blue badge. It still has to be applied for though, as it's administered by local councils and not the DWP.

mrcol1000

I think the problem here is assuming because you have mobility problems, that rules don't apply to you. As a wheelchair user, extra wide spaces are essential and without them life for me and my wife is very difficult. However I do not go into a car park and assume that because I am disabled that rules do not apply to me. The OP should just pay her penalty fines and follow the rules next time. Or get a taxi, as it sounds like it is the cheaper and easier option.

Also if your hospital does not charge for parking if you have a blue badge, then count yourself lucky and enjoy it while it lasts.

[Deleted User]

Ames wrote: »

In England anyone on higher rate DLA mobility or who gets 8 points on the 'moving around' part of PIP gets an automatic entitlement to a blue badge. It still has to be applied for though, as it's administered by local councils and not the DWP.

Sorry, I should have added that you still need to apply for it in Scotland.

teddysmum

mrcol1000 wrote: »

I think the problem here is assuming because you have mobility problems, that rules don't apply to you. As a wheelchair user, extra wide spaces are essential and without them life for me and my wife is very difficult. However I do not go into a car park and assume that because I am disabled that rules do not apply to me. The OP should just pay her penalty fines and follow the rules next time. Or get a taxi, as it sounds like it is the cheaper and easier option.

Also if your hospital does not charge for parking if you have a blue badge, then count yourself lucky and enjoy it while it lasts.

Our authority has charged for years, with BB holders paying the same price, but being given 30 minutes extra time.