A major authority has raked in thousands of pounds by issuing penalties to more than 2,000 drivers who breached major parking rules last year.
The fines, issued by Reading Borough Council, were for breaches involving a person using a disabled space without a Blue Badge or a person with a Badge overstaying their allotted parking time.
The breaches were recorded in a Freedom of Information request, revealing the extent of the problem across the Berkshire town.
The report found that Reading Borough Council gained £50,770 from these fines last year, with a total of 8,111 PCNs issued for the incorrect use of Blue Badge disabled bays in the past four years.
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Drivers can be fined £1,000 for Blue Badge misuse
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The data in the FOI covered both on-street disabled parking bays across the Reading area and those in the council's car parks.
The FOI data also revealed the locations where the most PCNs were issued from 2020 to 2024. Blagrave Street emerged as the road with the highest number of disabled parking fines, with 1,248 PCNs issued during this period. Kings Road followed closely with 1,095 PCNs issued to drivers.
Oxford Road saw a similar number, with 1,089 fines issued for disabled parking violations. These three streets account for a significant portion of all disabled parking fines in Reading.
The highest number of PCNs was recorded as 2,501 and were issued in 2023, showing an increase in enforcement activity, according to the FOI.
In the 2023/24 period, 2,367 fines were issued to people parking without clearly displaying a valid disabled person's Blue Badge in on-street parking spaces. Meanwhile, 96 people were fined for the same breach in the council's off-street car parks.
The council noted that any income the council receives from these fines must be reinvested in other transport-related projects, including better road surfacing and safety measures across Reading.
The issue of disabled parking space misuse has been a persistent problem in Reading over recent years, with rule breakers facing hefty fines.
The council's enforcement efforts have resulted in thousands of fines being issued to drivers who fail to respect these designated spaces.
The Blue Badge scheme is designed specifically for the Badge holder's use only, with strict rules against misuse, with drivers warned it is a criminal offence to let anyone else use the Badge when the holder is not in the vehicle.
Family members, friends or carers are not permitted to use the Badge to gain parking concessions for themselves, even when running errands for the Badge holder.
The Blue Badge must only be displayed if the holder is leaving or returning to the parked car. The council warned that drivers found guilty of misusing a Blue Badge could face fines of up to £1,000. If the permit is confiscated due to misuse, it will only be returned following a full investigation, the council added.
Under UK law, Blue Badges must be displayed on the dashboard or facia panel, with the hologram visible through the front windscreen.
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Drivers were fined for parking in disabled bays without having a Blue Badge
GETTYPolice officers, traffic wardens, parking attendants, and civil enforcement officers have the power to inspect Blue Badges at any time. Badge holders must show their badge when requested by these officials or risk breaking the law.
