Blue Badge Fraud: Councils Crack Down

0:00On April 5th, councils across England are getting pushed to clamp down on blue badge parking permit abuse, both real ones misused and total fakes now. That one and 15 folks has one. Over 3 million blue badges are out there as of last March, that's more than 6% of adults, letting people with disabilities part close to. Shops and dodge fees like London's 18-pound congestion charge, the AA is sounding the alarm, saying up to 1-5, might get used by the wrong person. Think family overstep, dead owners badges, counterfeits, or straight theft and resale old estimates pegged fraud costs at 46 million pounds a year back in 2011. Eligibility got broader in 2019 to cover hitting conditions like Parkinson's or dementia and over two-fifths of new ones issue. Without extra checks, regions vary with the northeast at 6.1% and London lowest at 3.5%. Councils are stepping up of prosecutions, like Corridan hitting seven offenders for nearly 6,000 pounds in fines or Oxfordshire nailing a guy.

1:05With his late grandma's badge, government says local powers are stronger now to protect real users from the scam.