MORE than one thousand disabled parking blue badges have been confiscated in Glasgow for fraudulent use.

More than one badge a day has been taken off drivers using the badge for free parking when they are not entitled to it.

Since parking attendants have had the power to confiscate badges, there have been 1118 taken off drivers using them when they shouldn’t.

The illegal use includes using someone else’s blue badge, using a blue badge of someone who is dead and using out of date or fake badges.

Some cars have been towed away for suspected misuse of a blue badge, with almost 500 in the last three years lifted from city streets.

In 2016/17 – the last full year for statistics – 428 badges were confiscated. 

This year – 2017/2018 – the figure stands at 356.

Not only are the drivers using a badge when they shouldn’t, but they are also depriving a genuinely disabled driver of a parking space.

The council said the blue badge rules are clear and anyone flouting them will not be tolerated.

Anna Richardson, City Convener for Sustainability and Carbon Reduction, said: “The blue badge scheme is invaluable for those who have a disability, giving them inclusive access to the city by allowing free, unlimited parking in on-street pay and display parking bays and in dedicated disabled persons’ spaces.”

Even more drivers have been suspected of misusing a blue badge but not had it confiscated.

A total of 2620 have been believed by a parking attendant to be using a badge when they shouldn’t.

Some people qualify for a blue badge automatically, including those who are blind or receive the Higher Rate of the Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance.

Others need to be assessed by the council to see if they qualify.

It allows drivers who are eligible to park free on any pay and display street parking bay and without limit of time. 

The council said that cracking down on fraudulent use will help ensure disabled people are able to use more spaces.

The blue badge scheme only applies to on-street parking and doesn’t affect parking in other places where disabled spaces may be available, like hospitals, council-owned car parks and supermarket and shopping mall car parks.

Ms Richardson added: “Tackling the issue of blue badge misuse results in genuine badge holders being able to access spaces more easily, which is vital as this type of access can greatly impact on their quality of life.

“The rules on blue badges are very clear. 

“It is an offence to use a blue badge, unless it is for the benefit of the badge holder. 

“This new legislation allows our parking attendants to be able to deal with cases of misuse far more effectively, as can be seen by the number of badges confiscated.”