Brighton & Hove City Council continues to work with Sussex Police and East Sussex County Council to enforce Blue Badge misuse, which is a criminal offence.
Since employing a dedicated Blue badge Investigator last year, the Council has prosecuted 91 offenders for Blue Badge misuse and 250 offenders have participated in their award-winning Community Resolution, 500 Blue Badges have also been destroyed as a result of enforcement.
Bank Manager, Hina Patel, of Cornford Close, Portslade was summoned to court for a second time on Wednesday, October 19 for misusing a blue badge, this time for a higher offence of ‘intent to deceive using a parking device, namely a Disabled Blue Badge.’
On October 19 Patel entered a not guilty plea and the case was adjourned. Mrs Patel has since changed her plea to guilty and has today been ordered to pay a £500 fine, £600 in costs and a £50 victim surcharge.
She had previously been prosecuted for misuse of a Blue Badge on May 15, 2015. She was fined £300, paid £350 costs and £30 victim surcharge.
Cllr Gill Mitchell, chair of the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee, said: “These prosecutions send out a clear message that we are cracking down on blue badge misuse in the city.
“The blue badge scheme is intended to make sure parking spaces are available for people who genuinely need them. We will continue to work with Sussex Police and East Sussex County Council to ensure that people with disabilities can get to and enjoy everything Brighton & Hove has to offer.”