Driver fined for using dead man's blue badge in West Wickham
10:53am Sunday 23rd September 2012 in News By Robert Fisk
The case was heard at Bromley Magistrates' Court
TRYING to get free parking by using her dead father-in-law’s blue badge cost a motorist £715.
After receiving reports of blue badge abuse in the West Wickham area Bromley Council sent members of its parking services team to West Wickham Leisure Centre where they saw Helen Roper parking her Jaguar in a disabled space.
When she was questioned she admitted the badge belonged to a dead relative and apologised.
Roper, of Beckenham Hill Road, Beckenham, pleaded guilty by post to wrongful use of a disabled person’s badge.
Bromley magistrates fined her £400 and ordered her to pay a victim surcharge of £15 and £300 towards prosecution costs.
This is the third time Bromley Council has taken a blue badge abuse case to court since it started clamping down on the practice in January 2005 and 26 badges have been removed from circulation.
Portfolio holder for the environment Councillor Colin Smith said: “I don’t know how many more people it is going to take to get caught and be prosecuted before people desist from this deceitful behaviour, but the undiluted message remains to those currently cheating both the system, as well as denying genuine blue badge users the parking spaces reserved for their use is to please give it up before you get caught, because you will.
“The council is unapologetically continuing a zero tolerance crack down of blue badge misuse and I would urge anyone with information concerning fraudulent use of a disabled badge, not to hesitate for a moment in reporting it to the council.”
Anyone who suspects a blue badge is being used fraudulently or for the benefit of anyone other than the holder is asked to call the council on 020 8313 4094 or report it online at bromley.gov.uk/report
madras says...
12:41pm Sun 23 Sep 12