Five people have been prosecuted at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Thursday, November 21, for misusing the blue badge scheme in Cardiff.

The National Fraud Initiative estimates that in the UK, one in five blue badges are being used illegally and steps are now being taken by a number of local authorities to prosecute those who are miss-using the scheme.

In Cardiff, 18,000 badges have been issued to residents legitimately and the council started an education and enforcement campaign in May to ensure those who use the blue badge scheme, are using their badges correctly.

Since May, 45 badges have been seized, eight cases have been brought to court with the remaining 37 cases due to be prosecuted.

The following fines were imposed by Cardiff Magistrates' Court yesterday:

• Robert Molden, 74, from Channel View Road, Cardiff, did not attend court and the case was heard in his absence. Mr Molden was fined £270, ordered to pay costs of £300, with a victim surcharge of £30 for using his wife's blue badge when he parked on Churchill Way on May 29, 2019, and she wasn't in the vehicle
• Rosa Duarte, 48, from Albany Road, Cardiff, pleaded guilty for using a blue badge which belonged to one of her clients, when the client wasn't in the vehicle on May 29, 2019 in Windsor Place and was fined £200, ordered to pay £300 in costs with a victim surcharge of £30
• Xue Jin Chen, 39, from Cheddar Crescent, Cardiff, pleaded guilty for using her daughter's blue badge in Windsor Place on June 4, 2019, when she wasn't in the vehicle and was fined £200, ordered to pay costs of £300 and a victim surcharge of £30
• Lisa Jane Dring, 49, from New Road, Cardiff, pleaded guilty to using her father's blue badge when she parked in Windsor Lane on June 6, 2019, when he wasn't in the vehicle and she was fined £200, ordered to pay costs of £300 and a victim surcharge of £30
• Rachel Cooper, 50, from Everard Way, Cardiff, pleaded guilty for using her son's blue badge in Windsor Lane on June 14, 2019, when he wasn't in the vehicle and was fined £200, ordered to pay costs of £300 and a victim surcharge of £30.

A Spokesman for Cardiff Council said: "It is very important to emphasise that the Council isn't any way targeting disabled people, what we are doing is quite the opposite, as we are targeting those who are using blue badges illegally and are taking up dedicated spaces which are genuinely required for people in need."

A blue badge allows a disabled person to:

• Park on streets with parking meters or pay-and-display machines for as long as you need to

•           Park in a disabled bay on streets for as long as you need to, unless there is a sign giving a time limit
•           Allows you to park on single or double yellow lines for up to three hours unless there is a ‘no loading' sign.
•           Having a blue badge doesn't allow you to park anywhere, as the parking regulations have to be followed. If you park in an area which endangers people, for example outside a school or near a junction a ticket can still be issued.

Having a blue badge doesn't allow you to park anywhere, as the parking regulations have to be followed. If you park in an area which endangers people, for example outside a school or near a junction a ticket can still be issued.

A blue badge holder can only let someone else use their badge if:

• You are in the car with them
• They are picking or dropping you off, and they need to park close to where you need to go
• If someone else is driving you, you must let them know the rules, or the badge can be confiscated.

The spokesman continued: "The clear message is for blue badge holders to use their badges correctly, in line with the law, otherwise the blue badge will be removed and the badge holder will not have access to any of the benefits that are afforded them.

The maximum fine that can be imposed by the court for someone misusing the blue badge scheme is £1000. The Council is legally allowed to confiscate blue badges from anyone who is using them, as there is an appeals process in place, if a disabled person believes that their badge had been taken unlawfully."