Share your views on disabled parking space abuse

Sarah Tooze, Consumer Editor
Mon, 01 Aug 2022

• Disabled Motoring UK wants to hear people's views on abuse of disabled parking spaces.
• Survey results will help push for better enforcement from the parking industry. 
• Accessibility of electric vehicle charging points also being investigated. 

Charity Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) has launched its annual Baywatch survey into abuse of disabled parking bays. 

The survey follows a freedom of information request by DMUK earlier this year, which found that two-fifths of councils fail to record misuse of disabled parking bays. It questions whether local authorities are doing enough to tackle abuse of the Blue Badge scheme, as well as seeking ideas for better enforcement. 

This year’s Baywatch survey also covers accessible electric vehicle (EV) charging points, in response to growing concerns among DMUK’s membership about EV charging infrastructure. 

HonestJohn.co.uk and online used car marketplace heycar are supporting the campaign, which provides the charity with valuable data to take to the parking industry to encourage it to do more to support disabled customers and manage their disabled parking provisions correctly.

The Baywatch campaign also aims to change public attitudes by bringing to the attention of disabled bay abusers the impact that their actions can have.

Heidi Turner, campaigns and communications director at DMUK, said: “Disabled bay abuse is still one of the main concerns expressed to us by our members and the public.

"Our annual Baywatch campaign is an opportunity to focus the parking industry on the problems faced by disabled motorists when parking and sends the message that these bays need to be enforced and managed correctly.

"We are noticing more opinions coming forward on how disabled motorists think the scheme should be enforced and we are also keen to hear these views.”

The survey is open throughout August and you can take part here. The results will be shared later this year. 

Ask HJ

Can I appeal a parking fine for not displaying my Blue Badge?

I am a disabled person unable to walk more than a few yards at a time. I have been using my local supermarket's disabled parking bays for many years, always parking in more or less the same place, close to the store. Today I received a parking charge letter charging me a fee of £70 for using a bay without displaying a Blue Badge. An error on my part. However, the parking attendant stood watching as I struggled out of my car to find a trolley. The photograph sent to me of my car clearly shows it parked in a disabled bay in front of a disabled parking sign. The sign simply states 'for the use of Blue Badge holders only'. There is no mention that a badge must be displayed as a condition of using the bay. There are no other signs visible stating conditions of use. In your opinion, do I have grounds to appeal the charge?

Although it is the responsibility of the Blue Badge holder to make sure their Blue Badge is displayed (and if it isn’t, the parking company can legitimately issue a ticket) I think you should appeal. We have spoken to Disabled Motoring UK (DMUK) about this and they advise appealing in two ways. Firstly, you could write to the parking company that has sent you the fine to explain you are a genuine Blue Badge holder who forgot to display your badge and include a copy of your badge with the appeal. Sometimes parking operators will cancel the charge and ask the person just to pay an admin fee. Secondly, you could take pictures of the signs and their proximity to the bays and state that you feel there is insufficient/inadequate signage.

Answered by Sarah Tooze

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Ask HJ

Parking fine for overstaying in a supermarket car park - is the ticket valid?

I have been issued with a fine for staying over two hours in a supermarket car park. The signage says that "the car park allows two hours of free parking for Sainsbury's customers". I wasn't a Sainsbury's customer so does that make the ticket invalid?

I'm afraid not, that actually means that you shouldn't have parked there. They are providing free parking for two hours to allow you to shop in their store. The sign acts as a contract between you and the supermarket because you are parking on private land and if you break the terms of the contract then they have the right to issue a penalty charge notice (PCN). However, you may be able to appeal the fine if it wasn't issued to you at the time and was sent to you in the post more than 14 days later than when you parked there. You could also try appealing if you only overstayed by 5-10 minutes as many car park operators allow a grace period (in fact, if you had parked in a council car park they legally have to give you a 10-minute grace period). However, you might be asked to provide your shopping receipt.

Answered by Sarah Tooze

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