However, I feel that the woman who challenged her should be applauded for having the tenacity and bravery to question the possible abuse of a blue badge.

If more people made an effort to challenge badge abuse then there would be more vacant spaces available for the truly physically disabled motorist / passenger.

I have witnessed disabled badges in vehicles that could not possibly have carried a disabled passenger; sports cars so low down that you would scuff your buttocks on the pavement getting into the car and then huge 4X4 vehicles where even an able bodied passenger would need assistance climbing into it.

A disabled badge may well be issued legitimately, however, it is quite possible for it to be used and abused by unscrupulous relatives or friends as the ultimate car accessories.

If you are a badge holder, it can only be used for your benefit. If a trip is for someone else and you are a passenger and staying in the vehicle, you cannot use the badge simply to let them benefit from free parking.

Blue badges need to be properly issued and displayed. It is an offence if a badge is not removed from a vehicle and people other than the badge holder take advantage of the parking concessions under the scheme, although, the challenger was not correct in the fact that the car tax disc must show a zero amount to enable you to have a blue badge.

To be able to claim zero car tax the applicant must be in receipt of the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance and the taxation class of their vehicle must be changed to that of 'disabled'.

However, a disabled badge and a zero rated tax disc is a requirement when using the disabled bays in the council car parks for free.



>> Click here to read more letters .