Prosecution serves as a warning to blue badge users

Shropshire Council’s public protection service is reminding disabled persons about the abuse and misuse of blue badges.

The advice follows a successful prosecution on 4 April 2014 where Shropshire Council brought a case under Section 117 (1) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 against a 59 year old woman from Milton Keynes.

Louise Kenny pleaded guilty to altering the expiry date on her disabled person’s badge and using the blue badge to avoid paying parking charges in Shrewsbury town centre on 28 August 2013.

Shrewsbury Magistrates’ Court fined Miss Kenny £135 and ordered costs of £628.18 to be paid to Shropshire Council.

Frances Darling, service manager for safer and stronger communities within public protection said:

“This case was investigated following a report by the Council’s civil enforcement officers that a blue badge was being misused.  During the investigation it became clear that the Miss Kenny had fraudulently altered the badge.  The Council is committed to meeting the needs of disabled persons who are entitled to parking concessions.  Abuse and misuse of the disabled persons badge is a criminal offence and the service takes its responsibility for identifying and taking appropriate action against offenders very seriously”.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member responsible for public protection added:

“Since its introduction in 1971, the Disabled Persons Parking Scheme has made a valuable contribution to the mobility of many disabled people.  The Local Authority’s provision of on-street parking concessions for blue badge holders is intended to assist independent mobility by allowing disabled persons to park closer to their destination.  Without prosecution action being taken against offenders, not only will a scheme that was designed to help disadvantaged members of society fall into disarray but members of the public who abide by parking restrictions will become disillusioned with imposed parking controls that are abused”.

Shropshire Council encourages individuals to contact its public protection service on 0345 678 9000 if they have any suspicions that offences may be being committed. Information can be given anonymously and will always be treated in line with the council’s information governance policies.

Further advice on parking controls and the use of disabled persons badges can be found on our website at http://www.shropshire.gov.uk/parking/