Disabled parking disc scam
One in three motorists displaying disabled parking permits is abusing the system, it was claimed today.
According to the Disabled Drivers' Association, about a third of the two million disabled parking badges currently in circulation in the UK are held by people with minor ailments who do not really need one.
In addition, 10 per cent of all badge use is by able-bodied drivers "borrowing" a family member's or friend's permit to park illegally.
The new European-Union-approved blue disabled parking badge - the old orange ones have been discontinued - allows the user to park on double or single yellow lines for up to three hours.
Penalties for using a disabled parking permit illegally include a £1,000 fine and a confiscation of the badge from the real holder. But these fines are rarely applied.
Douglas Campbell, executive director of the Disabled Drivers Association, said: "It absolutelydisgusts me when able-bodied people scam the scheme to get free parking, not only as a wheelchair user myself but as someone who helps look after the interests of the tens of thousands of badge holders."
A spokesman for the Department of Transport admitted: "The police and traffic wardens do take action in appropriate cases but, inevitably, the many demands on resources limit the manpower that can be directed to enforcing the badge scheme."
