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Blue Badge disabled parking scheme
The disabled Blue Badge parking scheme allows disabled and blind
people to park c
loser to shops
and amenities all over the world. The badge is registered to the
person and not the vehicle, and as such the badge holder can be
transported to other areas.
You can qualify for this scheme if one of the following applies
to you:
- you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the
Disability Living Allowance (DLA);
- you receive the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement;
- you use a motor vehicle supplied for disabled people by a
Government Health Department
- you are registered blind;
- you have a severe disability in both upper limbs, regularly
drive a motor vehicle but cannot turn the steering wheel of a motor
vehicle by hand even if that wheel is fitted with a turning knob;
or
- you have a permanent and substantial disability which affects
your mobility and means you have considerable difficulty in walking
(discretionary rules apply). In this case we will ask you to
provide recent medical evidence to verify your level of
disability.
If we are unable to make a decision based on your application,
you may be asked to attend an Independent Mobility Assessment which
will be carried out by a qualified professional. There is no charge
for the assessment.
Badges can be issued to a home or organisation that provides
care for disabled people.
Children under the age of two years do not qualify for a badge
because they would normally not be expected to be able to walk
independently. Organisations caring for disabled people meeting one
or more of the above criteria may be able to get a badge, but this
is entirely at the local authorities’ discretion. If your child
needs a blue badge, the application should be made in the name of
the child.
Penalty for misuse
It is a criminal offence to drive a vehicle displaying a blue
badge unless the badge holder is in the vehicle or the vehicle is
being driven by someone other than the badge holder for the purpose
of entering or leaving an area which is accessible only to vehicles
displaying a blue badge to pick up or drop off the holder. If you
do so, you are liable to a fine of up to £1,000.
To report misuse of a blue badge, please contact the
Customer Contact team but please note that a courtesy
bay, a painted white box with "disabled" written on the highway, is
not enforceable. A disabled bay with a legal order, a permanent
bay, again with a painted white box with "disabled" written on the
highway, along with a pole and sign saying "disabled parking only"
or similar, is enforceable.
Where you can park
There are some restrictions in the UK that are detailed in
The Blue Badge Scheme: Rights and responsibilities in
England. It details where Blue Badge holders can park. For
instance, a disabled driver can park on double yellow lines for up
to three hours, so long as the clock is set on arrival, but is
not exempt from limited waiting times.
Travelling abroad
Most countries honour the UK badge. If you are travelling in the
USA, stop at a local police station to clarify the local disabled
parking schemes and the use of your badge. For more information,
visit the Department
for Transport's Blue Badge Scheme page.
To apply
Complete, sign and return the Blue Badge application
form (pdf 184KB) along with two passport-style
photographs. To download the pdf you will need Adobe Acrobat
Reader. If you do not have this on your computer, please use our
advice page.
If it is difficult for you to get into a photo booth, two recent
cut-down photographs taken at home are acceptable. On rare
occasions, the council can issue the badge without a photo if it
really is impossible to get one.
If you are under five or over 65 years old, you will also need
to prove that you are getting the higher rate mobility component of
the DLA.
Application forms can also be obtained at one of Medway
Council's contact points or by contacting the
Customer Contact team using the details below.
Please allow at least eight weeks for your application to be
processed once a fully completed application form and all relevant
documentation has been received.
Badge issue fee (from 1 April
2012): There will be a £10
badge issue fee for every successful blue badge
application. You will only be issued with a Blue Badge once your
payment has been received. Please do not send any payment with your
application.
There is no charge for applicants under the age of
16.
Renewal
Blue badges are valid for three years, after which you must
re-apply to renew it, if it is still needed. You can apply up
to three months in advance but please note applications can
take at least eight weeks to be processed.
Motability: the leading car scheme for disabled people
Order the third edition of Rough Guide to Accessible
Britain.
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