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SECTION THREE WHO MISUSES PARKING FACILITIES?
Research has shown that people who admit to misusing parking facilities intended for disabled people can be divided into five groups, according to their attitudes and the reasons underlying their use of such facilities.
Group 1
' In denial': people who have misused reserved bays for people with disabilities but deny their actions. This group is likely to be embarrassed by their actions and likely to be deterred from using reserved bays again by the possibility of confrontation.
Group 2
' Reluctant' abusers: people who might have misused reserved bays once or twice, and are reluctant to re-offend. The reason for using a reserved bay might be because they were under pressure to park close to their destination ( e.g. due to reduced mobility, attending medical appointments at hospitals where parking is limited, or collecting heavy goods).
Group 3
' Justifiers': people who believe their actions are justified because:
a. They had parked in a reserved bay unknowingly ( e.g. because of poor bay design, or unclear markings and signs), and would not have used the bay if they were aware of its purpose. Such people have a low propensity to re-offend.
b. They believe they have a genuine need, or should be entitled to use parking bays for people with disabilities, because they are permitted to use other reserved parking facilities ( e.g. parent and child bays, or staff parking). People in this group are inclined to park in reserved bays for people with disabilities when they have problems accessing parking bays which they are entitled to use ( e.g. as a result of limited capacity of parking for staff at hospitals). In these circumstances they have a high propensity to offend on a regular basis.
c. They have a temporary disability or reduced mobility, or care for someone with specific needs, but are not entitled to use a Blue Badge. This group might include people with physical or sensory disabilities, mental health problems, or learning/behavioural difficulties.
Group 4
' Persistent' abusers: this group admit to using reserved parking bays for people with disabilities on a regular basis, and therefore pose a real threat to disabled people's access to services. People who fall within this group might have also committed other traffic and parking offences, such as speeding, parking on double yellow lines, and not paying parking fines.
Group 5
Misusers and fraudulent users of the Blue Badge: this group use Blue Badges inappropriately to park in a disabled person's parking space. The system can be abused in the following ways:
- Using a Blue Badge or a permit that has expired.
- Sharing of Blue Badges or permits illegally among friends and relatives.
- Stealing a Blue Badge or permit from a Badge holder's car, or illegally purchasing documents that are no longer needed or have been stolen.
- Using a Blue Badge when making a trip on behalf of the Badge holder, without him or her being present.
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