An able bodied Portslade bank manager has been fined for the second time for misusing a blue badge, this time for doing it intentionally.
Yesterday, Hina Patel, of Cornford Close, pleaded guilty to intent to deceive using a disabled blue badge, and was fined £500 and ordered to pay £600 in costs and a £50 victim surcharge.
She had previously been prosecuted for misuse of a Blue Badge on 15th May 2015. She was then fined £300, paid £350 costs and £30 victim surcharge.
Cllr Gill Mitchell, chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “These prosecutions send out a clear message that we are cracking down on blue badge misuse in the city.
“The blue badge scheme is intended to make sure parking spaces are available for people who genuinely need them. We will continue to work with Sussex Police and East Sussex County Council to ensure that people with disabilities can get to and enjoy everything Brighton & Hove has to offer.”
On 19 October Patel entered a not guilty plea and the case was adjourned. She later changed her plea to guilty.
As part of International Anti-Fraud Week 13 -19 November the Blue Badge team are working with Sussex Police to target known offenders. Brighton and Hove City Council continues to work with Sussex Police and East Sussex County Council to enforce Blue Badge misuse, which is a criminal offence.
Since employing a dedicated Blue badge Investigator last year, the council has prosecuted 91 offenders for blue badge misuse and 250 offenders have participated in their award winning Community Resolution. Five hundred blue badges have also been destroyed as a result of enforcement.
