A north-east MSP has been victorious in his campaign to crackdown on drivers who abuse blue badges.
The Scottish Parliament yesterday unanimously backed Dennis Robertson’s Disabled Persons’ Parking Badges (Scotland) Bill, which aims to protect the rights of blue badge holders and provide more powers to local authorities.
Aberdeenshire West MSP Mr Robertson, who is blind and uses a badge, first put forward a private members bill at the start of 2013 and later won the support of the Scottish Government.
There are around 263,000 blue badges in use in Scotland, which allow disabled drivers to park in restricted areas. It is thought that around 4,000 permits that once belonged to drivers who have died are still being used.
The bill will let councils cancel lost or stolen badges, confiscate those that have been misused and create a new offence of using a cancelled badge. Undercover officers will be able to examine and seize badges that are being misused.
Last night Mr Robertson said he was “delighted” that MSPs had passed his proposals.
“Blue badge misuse actually prevents legitimate badge holders from accessing the vital on-street parking concessions to which they are entitled,” he said.
“I want to protect badge holders by ensuring that only those entitled to use the badge either as driver or passenger are able to do so.
“Tackling misuse will help disabled badge holders access services in the community and lead independent lives.”
Transport Minister Keith Brown, who led yesterday’s Holyrood debate for the Scottish Government, said the bill would “send out a strong message” to those thinking of using someone else’s badge.
“I am pleased that Dennis Robertson’s proposals have been approved and commend him for his work in developing the bill,” he said.
“His work on the bill has also been the catalyst in identifying a need to further raise awareness of the blue badge scheme’s rules and regulations.
“We want to make sure that badge holders understand the rules of the scheme. We also want to ensure that the wider public understand the purpose of the blue badge scheme and the impact on disabled people if badges are not used the way they are intended.”