Disabled parking cheats (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Disabled parking cheats

8:42am Friday 5th February 2010

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Sir.–Over the Christmas and New Year period, I, like many others, was busy juggling shopping with the weather and numerous other commitments. On at least three occasions, I found myself in Church Street by the disabled parking spaces.

On the first occasion, I was shopping with my 93-year-old mother, and we had to cruise around for a while before a disabled space became available. That space had been occupied by a young father with two primary school-age children and no disabled badge visible.

The second time, I observed a people carrier with five occupants parked in a disabled bay. It remained for several minutes before they all left the car and headed for the shops. Again, no sign of any disablement.

On a third occasion, a young woman with a child of about 11 came along and, without any hesitation, parked in a disabled space, placed a disabled badge in the window and, again, headed into town. Disabled? I don’t think so.

Am I missing something here, apart from the traffic wardens? I have a disabled badge, which I use with my mother, but maybe it would be my passport to free parking.

What message would I be giving my children and myself ? Cheat the system if you have enough nerve and you can get away with it.

What a sad society we live in today.

–Name and address withheld.

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