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Home arrow Holyrood news arrow News by category arrow People & Society (HCL09) arrow Disabled parking penalties gain backing
Disabled parking penalties gain backing Print E-mail
Thursday, 13 November 2008

The Scottish Parliament's Local Government and Communities Committee has given its backing in principle to recommendations to penalise drivers who abuse disabled parking bays.

Outlined in the Disabled Persons' Parking Places (Scotland) Bill brought forward by Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, it calls for enforceable fines of up to £60 for anyone without a Blue Badge who parks in a disabled space.

As the law currently stands in Scotland, around 85 per cent disabled parking spaces are courtesy spaces that allow non-Blue Badge holders to park in them.

If the bill is passed then councils will need to work alongside private car park operators, such as supermarkets and retail parks, to make disabled parking spaces legally enforceable.

Convener Duncan McNeil said his committee had been "alarmed" by the reported level of fraud concerning the Blue Badge Scheme, and called for action across Scotland to end this abuse.

Discussing the legal practicalities, he said: "We believe that a year after the act comes into force is adequate time for local authorities to complete an audit of disabled parking bays and the Minister should only sanction an extension in exceptional circumstances.

"The committee also agrees that the estimate of £1.7 million for promotion and implementation is subject to a degree of doubt."

However, if the bill is passed then the committee has said it expects the Scottish Government and COSLA to negotiate any implementation costs to ensure local authorities do not end up being "burdened" with the cost.

McNeil welcomed efforts made by supermarket ASDA in enforcing disabled parking spaces, suggesting it was "good practice" that should be adopted by others.

One person has commented on this article.
1. Disabled parking penalties gain backing
Donald Anderson, Unregistered
ASDA has received a great deal of publicity about their stance on fining people who abuse parking bays designated for Blue Badge holders. However, the signs that they display outside their stores only state that people 'may' be liable to a penalty of £60 and I would be interested to discover how many people have been fined at each of their stores in Scotland since the signs were installed. I use ASDA for all my major shopping and I have certainly found no difference in the number of people who abuse the designated bays. The other morning there were seven designated bays occupied and my car was the only one with a Blue Badge. Is ASDA gaining public relations kudos and free publicity by installing a couple of signs at each store or is it really committed to this campaign? Information on the number of people fined for abusing these spaces could answer this question.
Posted 2008-11-17 06:37:50
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