A Hove driver found fraudulently using a blue badge belonging to a disabled person has been fined £525.
Yiannis Meltsis, of Hove Park Villas, was instructed to pay £250 costs and £15 victim surcharge at Brighton Magistrates Court yesterday.
The court heard how in February last year Mr Meltsis was stopped by a police constable after parking in Prince Albert Street with the badge displayed.
When asked about the blue badge, Mr Meltsis admitted he had found it and then handed the badge in to the police officer.
Councillor Geoffrey Theobald, cabinet member for environment, said: “Using a blue badge fraudulently is taking away a disabled person’s access to the city’s facilities.”
Mr Meltsis was caught as a result of Operation Bluebird, where Brighton and Hove City Council, Sussex Police and NSL (the council’s parking contractor) work together to tackle blue badge fraud.
Cllr Theobald added: “Operation Bluebird combines the expertise of parking staff and the police to make sure blue badges and disabled parking spaces are available for the people who really need them.”
