Disabled Parking fines

[hermes2007]

I was in Sainsbury's at Melksham yesterday (shopping for the old lady I visit there) and I notice they have introduced a £50 fine for parking in the disabled bays without a Blue Badge. Not sure if that is general for Sainsbury's as I haven't been to the one in Frome for a while.

As I have a Blue Badge because I can't walk all that far, I do notice how they are used. The bays outside the Tesco Express are much abused, pretty good at the Coop and Morrisons in Warminster in my experience, but none have fines like ASDA, and now Sainsburys.

I wrote to Tesco's and Morrisons about this some time ago on behalf of the Stroke Club in Warminster and I think it fair to say they weren't interested. I guess disabled people don't bring enough money into their shops (or am I being cynical ?).

[Bob De'Bilda]

I am not saying it's not a good idea, It is. I am just not sure how enforcible it might be. Perhaps wheelclamping non blue badge holders might be better, then charging £50 for release.

Having said that, I do believe some establishments, not all, have a disproportionate amount of disabled bays. I have visited, through work, NHS & MOD establishments where I have struggled to park whilst there are swathes of disabled bays unused and remain unused most of the day. I don't know if there is a law which says a % of parking bays have to be allocated disabled.

[Jimkerr]

The times I've gone to tesco express and notice cars with no blue badge's parked in the disabled bay but what can you do nothing the fine should be £250 not £50 i have a blue badge for my stepson but i never use it when he's not in the car because i know how precious those spaces are for the disabled some drivers should lose points they soon stop parking in the bays.

[mleonard]

I was wondering about the legality/advisability of making public an offender's registration number.

Google found this:

http://www.betterdrivingplease.com

[hermes2007]

Only slightly off topic. I was pulling slowly backwards out of a disabled bay in the High Street today. I looked back up the street and only saw a blue car just coming up the ramp. Next thing I know they beep me and though I am half way out they overtake me by swooping very dangerously close to Boots etc. As far as I could see it was an older lady driving. Interesting example of manners - and very dangerous to pedestrians in my opinion. She must have been driving at some speed too.