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Blue Badge fraud doubles in last year
The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that despite local councils’ best efforts to prevent fraud, which has included the creation of specific enforcement teams to tackle the problem, the number of Blue Badge thefts has risen from 656 in 2013 to 1,756 in 2014.
The LGA has reported that someone fraudulently using a Blue Badge could avoid more than £6,000 a year in parking charges based on the average price of £3 per hour for 40 hours a week.
A Blue Badge can only be used in a vehicle when it is being driven by or used to transport the Blue Badge holder. Misuse of a Blue Badge is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act 1984. The current maximum fine on conviction is £1,000.
Cllr Peter Box, LGA transport spokesman, commented: "Illegally using a Blue Badge is not a victimless crime. For disabled people, Blue Badges are absolutely essential in order to get out and about to visit shops or family and friends.
“Callous Blue Badge thieves and unscrupulous fraudsters using them illegally are robbing disabled people of this independence. It is staggering how low some people are stooping simply to con a few hours of free parking and alarming to see thefts rising so significantly. Despite limited resources, councils will continue trying to crackdown on this crime and will not hesitate to prosecute drivers trying to abuse the system.”
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