Seem to hand out blue badges quite easily. Why do blue badge holders gat free parking? How do loads of them manage round Asda for a full shop then return to their new car? Can I complain if a blue badge holder parks in a non disabled space? Terribly abused scheme.
Try applying for one, I think you will find they don't..
I have a blue badge, but I was refused first and had to re-apply. When I first applied I had to go to a meeting and be assessed, I was still on crutches and unable to walk any distance at all with out feeling severe pain. But they refused me my badge.
I then went to the Chronic Pain Team at the hospital and they noted me as considerably disabled. I then re-applied and managed to get a blue badge.
Even now each time I renew, it's forms to fill in, forms to send, even though they have it on record that I will not improve and now have heart issues that also adds to the issues!!.
But I must admit I do see a lot of people using these blue badges and you do sometimes think "WHY HAVE THEY GOT ONE" but none of us know if they have unforeseen illness or disabling pain.
Before I got mine I used to see folk parking in the disabled bays, going into the shops, then returning carrying bags of shopping, loading the car and drive off. It really got on my nerves and still does at times but I used to think that I can't do that and I got refused!! How did they get a badge and it really p*s*ed me off.
As for free parking, you don't always have free parking. Even some hospitals don't do free disabled parking. But for the reason most are free is down to one of the questions asked I think. "Can you reach a parking meter to pay"
Also a lot of disabled like myself are not working or claiming any benefits. So why should they/we pay to park. We or I have to pay for all my meds etc but wouldn't if I was claiming benefits. So it's nice to get something for nowt even if it's a parking spot!
AND
NO you can't complain if someone is displaying a badge in a none disabled spot. LOL and why would you, you can walk better than most go park further away!!
Yes some use other peoples badges and that needs to be policed in some way. Maybe parking attendants should do spot checks on them to make sure the face fits. Then give the abusers of the badges the £1000 fine as they say plus ban them from getting a badge for the next 5 years or so. Maybe that would stop a lot of them being abused..