You may be of the opinion that society is breaking down but there are still some things that people are willing to stand up for and have a go at. Whenever someone uses a disabled parking space without the proper badge or paperwork, you will usually find people willing to criticise and point out the wrongdoings of this action. There will be people who take things too far, and of course not all issues that people suffer from are physical, so a person may appear to be fine but could still have the right to use this parking space. It is far from being perfect but the average woman or man in the street would say that this is an area that shouldn’t be crossed and that it is right that safe and convenient parking spaces are provided for those who need it most.
Of course, there are always going to be some people who look to ruin things and put their own greed above the needs of others. This is why news issued by the Kent Trading Standards is extremely disappointing. The team at the Trading Standards team in Kent have reported that they have received complaints of a Blue Badge website selling the badges for £49. The website requests bank details alongside other personal information, but of course, this website and the people behind it have no authority to issue these badges.
These spaces are Vital for the People that use them
We’ve all thought from time to time how nice it would be to be guaranteed a convenient parking space close to amenities and stores but being able to buy a badge for less than £50 is a step too far for many people. It is not just the fact that this money is going to people who have no right to receive the money, people who genuinely need a convenient parking space may find that they cannot do so because non-eligible people are parking in their space with a blue badge of their own.
People who are entitled to a Blue Badge can buy their for £10, so it is not as if it is something that people receive for free, but it is something that can make life a lot easier for people who really need it.
There is a wide range of people who are entitled to a Blue Badge and the following people automatically qualify for the badge:
- People that receive a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
- People that receive the higher level mobility component of the DLA (Disability Living Allowance)
- People that are registered as blind according to the National Assistance Act of 1948
- People that receive the higher level of Mobility Under the PIP (Personal Independence Payment)
The following group of people that may be eligible for the Blue Badge:
- People with a child of 3 years or younger who have to transport large or bulky medical equipment as to provide emergency care and treatment
- People who require to be close to a vehicle so they can be driven to receive treatment for a personal illness
- People who drive regularly and who suffer from severe disability in both of their arms
- People who drive regularly and who cannot work/struggle to use parking meters
- People who suffer from a substantial or permanent disability that impacts on their mobility and causes difficulty walking
It is very clear why people who legitimately hold a Blue Badge need to do so, and anything which impacts on people’s ability to find a relevant parking space is a sad day for all of us. There was no official confirmation as to whether the Blue Badges on sale at the website were official Blue Badges which had somehow fallen into the wrong hands or were good quality copies. The vast majority of people would probably be unable to tell the difference but it would result in different charges being brought against people if any charges were filed.
Trading Standards teams deal with a Wide range of Crimes
There is no denying that this isn’t a common case or one of the most regular areas of work for Trading Standards but it is the sort of crime that would annoy most people. There are not many things that unite people these days but anyone making money off of this style of crime would find themselves very unpopular.
If any charges ever arose from this crime, there would be a need for the defence solicitor to focus on the facts of the crime and make sure that public opinion had no part to play in the judgment.
Andrew Reilly is a freelance writer with a focus on news stories and consumer interest articles. He has been writing professionally for 9 years but has been writing for as long as he can care to remember. When Andrew isn’t sat behind a laptop or researching a story, he will be found watching a gig or a game of football.