Some Nottingham drivers are so desperate for parking spaces they are using the disabled blue badges of their dead relatives, the city council says.
Enforcement officers say they caught ten motorists misusing passes last month – one of them had belonged to someone who had died.
And in the 12 months to this April the council seized 34 badges – nine of which were being used by a relative of a deceased driver.
The scam has led to the council launching a ‘badge amnesty’ encouraging people who own passes which could be used illegally to hand them in, with “no questions asked”.
The scheme is being launched by the council’s Community Protection team.
Other common methods of misusing the badges include displaying out-of-date cards, lending them to third parties and making counterfeit versions.
It is a shame when it’s their own family members doing it
Marcus Hall, of Community Protection, said: “My pet hate is when people use their deceased family member’s blue badge, it is a shame when it is their own family members doing it, I think it is very disrespectful to them and to the people who actually need a blue badge.”
He added: “If you’re misusing a blue badge we will find you, we have our means and we are not afraid to punish those that are misusing the blue badge scheme because that ruins it for people who actually need one.”
Picture: Examples of confiscated blue badges
Councillor Nicola Heaton, the city council’s portfolio holder for community services, said: “The disabled blue badge scheme is for people who have mobility problems.
“If you use a blue badge that is not yours or has expired for parking purposes, then you are restricting access for others who are genuine badge holders.”
The amnesty will start from Monday November 2, when expired and illegal badges cards can be handed in at any city library.
There will be a stand in St Peter’s Gate on Monday only from 10am till 2pm where people can meet the Community Protection team.
More information about the scheme can be found on the Nottingham Community Protection website.
