42 motorists prosecuted over two months in Bromley for Blue Badge misuse

A total of 42 motorists have been prosecuted for abusing the Blue Badge scheme over a two-month period, as the council continues its crackdown to protect genuine users. The fines and costs issued to these offenders amounted to a whopping £31,321 in total.

Twenty of these cases involved drivers who displayed cancelled Blue Badges; two of these had been deleted from the national database, two had been lost, fifteen had been stolen, and two had been displayed after the holders had passed away. The remaining twenty-two cases involved vehicle owners who were prosecuted under section 17 of the Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1972 for failing to provide information relating to the identification of a driver after a suspected Blue Badge misuse incident.

One of these cases involved the display of a Blue Badge that had been deleted from the national database, three involved badges that had been cancelled as lost, twelve cases involved the display of stolen badges, two involved badges that had been cancelled as undelivered/lost in the post, one involved an expired badge with a forged expiry date and two of the cases involved badges that had been displayed after the holders had passed away.

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In a staggering tally of abuse, council officers have rumbled forty-two drivers misusing Blue Badges to snag parking perks they weren't entitled to—perks reserved for those with mobility-related disabilities. A council spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the rising prosecution numbers stating, "The number of prosecutions for Blue Badge abuse is rising steadily in our borough which clearly demonstrates that the measures we are taking to combat this type of abuse and bring offenders to justice are working.

"We simply will not tolerate abuse of a scheme designed to ensure that those with disabilities can park close to their destination and continue with their daily lives. This work is very much continuing and motorists tempted to abuse a Blue Badge are warned they will face prosecution."

Adding a twist to the discovery, the majority of misused badges came from outside Bromley. Within the last year alone, there's been a striking record of 165 prosecutions for similar offences locally. For those looking to skirt around the rules, consider yourself warned: the crackdown is far from over.

More info and guidance on how to stick to the straight and narrow with Blue Badges is up for grabs on Bromley Council's official website. A Blue Badge must be returned to the issuing authority, as indicated on the front of the badge, under any of these circumstances: the badge has expired, the holder's medical condition or mobility has improved and they no longer qualify, a replacement has been issued for a lost or stolen badge and the original is found, the badge is damaged or unreadable, the holder no longer needs the badge because they are housebound, or the holder has passed away.

Misusing a Blue Badge is a criminal offence that can result in a £1,000 fine and confiscation of the badge.

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