The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking concessions for people with severe mobility problems who have difficulty using public transport. The scheme operates throughout the UK.
The concessions apply to on-street parking and include free use of parking meters and pay-and-display bays.
Badge holders may also be exempt from limits on parking times imposed on others and can park for up to three hours on single and double yellow lines as long as they are not causing an obstruction (except where there is a ban on loading or unloading or other restrictions.)
While the scheme operates throughout the UK, there are small variations in its application in Northern Ireland. The Road Service website provides further information.
The scheme provides parking concessions for :
The scheme allows badge holders to park close to their destination but the concessions apply only to on-street parking.
Note: Children under two years of age do not qualify for a badge because they would not normally be expected to walk independently. Organisations which care for people with disabilities and meet one of the above criteria may be eligible for a badge.
The badges - sometimes known as disabled parking permits - can be used throughout the UK and while travelling abroad within the European Union (EU) and in some other European and non-European countries.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) - an independent road safety charity - publishes a booklet with detailed information about the use of the Blue Badge in EU countries. It can be downloaded from the IAM website.
The Blue Badge scheme does not apply to off-street car parks, private roads or at most airports.
Use NIDirect's interactive tool to find Blue Badge parking bays near you, or across the UK.
If you think you may be entitled to a Blue Badge you can request an application form from:
Disabled Persons Badge Scheme Central Office
Castle Barracks
Wellington Place
Enniskillen
Co. Fermanagh
BT74 7HN
Telephone: (028) 6634 3700
Fax: (028) 6634 3730
Textphone: (028) 6634 3749
Email: disabledpersons@drdni.gov.uk
You can also download an application form to apply. Complete the application form and return it in the pre-addressed envelope provided. It will be returned to you if it is completed incorrectly. You will receive a decision within 15 working days of the date of receipt of your application.
However, if information to support your application has to be requested from your doctor you will be informed if you are/aren't entitled to a Blue badge on receipt of that information.
Alternatively you can apply to the scheme using an online form.
The fee is £2.00. Cheques or postal orders should be made payable to the Department for Regional Development. Cash should not be sent through the post.
The Blue Badge is a two-sided card with space for a photograph of the badge holder on the back. Your application should therefore be accompanied by two recent photographs, which you should sign on the back.
You may send passport-type photographs taken from self-service booths or any suitable photographs cut down to passport photograph size.
If you answer 'yes' to any of the questions in Part B of the application form, you must provide the appropriate certificate or letter of award/letter of confirmation.
It is an offence to park a vehicle which is not displaying a badge in a Blue Badge parking bay. If you see this, you should report it to a traffic warden (or parking enforcement officer), the local police or the local council (who are responsible for issuing badges).
Police officers and traffic attendants have the right to inspect Blue Badges. It is an offence to refuse or fail to produce a badge for inspection, without reasonable excuse. This offence carries a maximum fine of £1,000.
Most parking bays for people with disabilities in off-street car parks (for example, supermarket car parks) are not covered by Blue Badge scheme regulations. Car parks and parking bays like these are likely to be privately owned and managed by the individual business.
The agreement -and any cost to use them - will be between the owner and the motorists/customers.
If you are a motorist with disabilities (or passenger) and you complain to, for example, a supermarket that a motorist without disabilities has parked in a bay for people with disabilities, an employee of the store could ask the driver to move their car from the bay, but they will not be in a position to legally insist on it.
If you think that people are unfairly parking in bays for people with disabilities, speak or write to the management of the store or car park.
The government (Department for Regional Development) supports the Baywatch Campaign - a partnership between several major supermarkets and disability organisations - including the Disabled Drivers' Association. The campaign aims to end the abuse of parking bays put aside for the use of drivers with disabilities.
Your badge can be withdrawn if the badge holder misuses it. For example, by allowing other people to use it or if a person's disability improves so that they are no longer eligible for the scheme.
If you are a badge holder, it can only be used for your benefit. If a trip is for someone else and you are a passenger and staying in the vehicle, you cannot use the badge simply to let them benefit from free parking.
Blue Badges need to be properly issued and displayed. It is an offence if a badge is not removed from a vehicle and people other than the badge holder take advantage of the parking concessions under the scheme.
Misuse of the badge itself by a person without disabilities is an offence. The maximum fine if someone is convicted is £1,000, plus any additional penalty for the related parking offence.
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