Able-bodied drivers who used fake or borrowed blue badges have been fined thousands of pounds by the courts.
Caroline Cowley of Chalky Road in Portslade was found guilty in her absence after she failed to appear on 22 September. She had used a blue badge issued by West Sussex County Councilto park in Cannon Place, Brighton on 17 October last year.
She was fined £660 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £264 and costs of £100, bringing the total court bill to £1,024.
Mariana Agladious of Stonery Road, Portslade admitted using a badge issued by Brighton and Hove City Council to park in Bartholomews on 13 February.
On 22 September, she was fined £415 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £26.
Scott McQuaide of Langley Crescent, Woodingdean, used a blue badge issued by Brighton and Hove City Council to park at Jubilee Street on 10 January.
He was found guilty in his absence on 22 September,
Oliver Stunt of Baker Street pleaded guilty on 22 September to using a blue badge to park in Kingsbury Street on 13 January.
He was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £26 victim surcharge.
Sylvia Mwenze of Montpelier Terrace was fined £660 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £264 and costs of £100, bringing the total court bill to £1,024.
She was found guilty in her absence on 22 September of using a blue badge to park at Hove Town Hall on 7 November last year.
Dionne Stephens, of Dyke Road, Brighton, admitted using a badge issued by Brighton and Hove City Council to park in Spring Street on 21 December last year.
On 27 October she was fined £200 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £80 and costs of £150, bringing the total court bill to £430.
Adrian Liles, 66, of Friday Street, Eastbourne, used a blue badged purporting to have been issued by Brighton and Hove City Council to park in Queens Gardens, Hove on 10 May.
On 27 October, he admitted the offence and was fined £320 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £128 and costs of £150, bringing the total court bill to £598.
On 24 November, Angela Ball failed to appear at Brighton Magistrates Court where she was found guilty of using a blue badge in Brighton on 23 February.
Ball, of Montague Street, Brighton, was fined £120 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £48 and costs of £430, bringing the total court bill to £598.
Domenico Missoni, of Radley Road, Bristol, was charged with not telling the council who had been driving a silver Citroen alleged to have been guilty of an offence, and of using a badge issued by the London Borough of Brent to park in John Street, Brighton, on 13 April.
The second charge was withdrawn but Missoni was found guilty of the first in his absence on 24 November at Brighton Magistrates Court. He was fined £220 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £88 and costs of £450, bringint the total to £758.
Alexandra Parr, of Springfield Road, Brighton, was found guilty in her absence on 24 November of using a badge issued by Brighton and Hove City council to park in Brighton on 19 January.
She was fined £440 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £176 and costs of £430, bringing the total court bill to £1,046.
Take their cars for 30 days and make them pay storage costs on top of the fines, if abandoned then add £1000, soon stop that snide works.
Well if that was an option under the law then no doubt the sentences might have included those options.
But it isn’t.
A good news story, blue badge abuse so widespread the more that get caught, the more hopefully will be put off from doing it.
Why is there such a large range of fines for the same offence – from £1,024 to conditional discharge?
Fines are based on income / ability to pay so are variable for that reason.
Consideration also given if there is a guilty plea – earlier you admit the offence the bigger the discount.
Named and shamed and about time too. Probably won’t stop the cheats from doing it again though.
I’m thank full I have a bluey – but I wish to gawd I wasn’t disabled and didnt need one – I often see guys and gals jump in and out of their cars with the badge on show – running in the shops – running out again – 60 years a hoppalong – never ran a race in my life worse luck – 😞
Have you not heard of hidden disabilities, someone who you are saying run in and out of shops may be having cancer treatment or have epilepsy the list goes on…. I think your comment is very ignorant and judgmental to those like me who have hidden disabilities.
The badges may have been used fraudulently over a long period, not just the once that was apprehended. Was the fine cheaper than the parking fees over time?
Here is the link for reporting blue badge (and other kinds of) fraud in B&H:
https://forms.brighton-hove.gov.uk/form/report-fraud
Well I no q certain person who rents his blue badge for 1200 Year as the certain person works in London and I no the person renting the blue badge saves 29.000 a year fact as he works just outside Westminster which has a different disabled scheme fact but no excuse no reason apart from making money or in case savings
Well then report it!
My understanding is that the main criteria for getting a blue badge is the inability to walk more than a few yards – it’s a mobility issue that gets one, therefore any driver who gets out and runs or walks easily should not have one.
Another form of abuse that seems to get little attention is the driver who uses the legitimate blue badge holder’s presence and badge in the car to enable them to park, and leaves them there whilst getting their own shopping or whatever.
You are incorrect… there are also other reasons for being eligible for a Blue Badge although they are very strict about them. These are hidden reasons, such as a terminal illness, a specific type of mental health illness, types of epilepsy, breathlessness due to certain health problems etc… Also, the walking distance is 50 meters before needing to take a break. Why don’t you try to look details up instead of jumping to conclusions.
Not nearly as big a haul as the frausters in our council implementing a parking scheme they know is discriminatory, relying on everyone to have a. a smartphone and b. a signal or they will fine them, or charging for emissions-based parking permits when parked cars don’t emit.
Hmm, Sharon…Jumping to conclusions ??? I have been a blue badge holder for over 20 years now and think I know the rules by now. The confusion arises over the fact that many badge holders are not, in fact drivers but need to park close to various facilities. They are the ones qualifying through various hidden disabilities. Drivers must have mobility issues. My gripe is that a perfectly able driver takes the blue badge holder with then and leaves them sitting in the car or somewhere else while they do their own shopping or whatever, just to be able park where they normally could not. The regulations for use state “The badge is for your use and benefit only,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,You should not use the badge to allow non-disabled people to take advantage of the benefits while you sit in the car.”