Scared to leave her

[Rolfe]

Rolfe what about all the disabled badge holders who have obviously got the car because they care for a relative or similar. They really p*ss me off when they take the disabled spaces purely because they have the badge. Yeah they could be going an errand for the person who the badge belongs to but does that give them the right to use the space when some other poor punter who can't manage, can't get a space at the door. Does that not annoy you if you are out with your mother and the spaces are taken?

Ah don't get me started  

That sort of behaviour is very risky indeed.  If you park in a disabled space with no badge, not a lot is likely to happen to you as things stand.  If you park there with a fraudulent badge - and that includes a badge belonging to a relative who isn't in the car - the sky is likely to fall on you.  This is because it is seen as fraudulent use of the badge, rather than just parking where you shouldn't have.

As far as I know, there is no entitlement to use the badge if you are simply running an errand on behalf of the disabled person.  Otherwise I could use the thing every time I go to Tesco - which I don't, obviously.  I have parked in a disabled space once or twice with her in the car, and then she's said she'd rather sit in the car and not get out.  I don't know how legit that is, maybe I should have moved the car at that point.  However, the thought of having to do it all again when she later decided she actually wanted to use the Ladies Room (almost an inevitability) kind of put me off.

But the bottom line is, if you have someone else's blue badge in your car, and you decide to be a bad person and park in a blue badge space even though you yourself are perfectly fit, the best thing you can do is hide that blue badge.  It's the difference between a rap on the knuckles and a conviction for fraud.

And I'm not advocating parking in a parent-and-child space if you don't have a sprog.  I'm merely complaining that these spaces crowd everyone else away from the close-by parking area.  I've seen young mothers with perfectly mobile six-year-olds use them, while older people (not blue badge material obviously) are struggling in from the far reaches of the outfield in pouring rain.

Rolfe.

[Rolfe]

Back on topic, sort of.  I know how you feel about the door damage.  I had a Caspian Blue Fiesta which got peppered all down both sides by paint chips, which looked horrid.  Never had the slightest problem with the Peugeot - because it came with door protection strips fitted as standard, part of the design of the car.

I can't see what's wrong with these strips, lots of cars have them and they don't look bad at all to me.  In fact, my car's side view seems a bit naked to me without them.

Why not?

Rolfe.

[p3asa]

Never knew it became fraud, that is interesting although I'd never say to them personally.
I'm sure I heard one of the bigger supermarkets in Glasgow (could be Asda) were going to clamp down on the abuse of these kind of spaces but I don't know where they stand legally.

As for the it's "p*ssing down" and the young mother with a perfectly fit 6 year old and an old couple that don't meet the badge criteria. I suppose both will think their needs are greater. But some folk are just so self righteous and don't give a sh*t about others needs. Which is basically the problem with a lot of folk nowadays.

[p3asa]

I can't see what's wrong with these strips, lots of cars have them and they don't look bad at all to me.  In fact, my car's side view seems a bit naked to me without them.

Why not?

Rolfe.

A lot of the new cars now don't have them. I suppose its just another trend / fashion statement like indicators in the wing mirrors!!

[VWKev]

I dont see it that way. Disabled yeah, I would never park in their spaces, but parent and toddler, thats a lifestyle choice made by the parents, you shouldnt get any extra priviledge for that.

What age are you Kev? I don't mean in a "grow up way" just purely out of interest as to your probability of having kids?
When I had the one child I rarely used parent and child as it was no hassle carrying 1 but come the twins, I then had 3 kids all under 4. Try going shopping on a busy Friday night with the rain p*ssing down and not a space to be had, struggling to get in to the supermarket with 3 kids getting soaked only to find some chav (without a kid) getting in to his poxy motor in the parent and toddler spaces.

I'm 36. Don't have any kids. But when I do, I dont need to be treated differently. If I have 10 kids and I goto Asda then there will be something seriously wrong in my head. 1. I wouldnt goto Asda with kids, 2. I'd keey the kids and let the misses go or vice versa, or 3, I'd online shop at asda. I'm not disabled and dont need a parking space specifically for my lifestyle choice.

[VWKev]

I just wish they wouldn't crowd everyone else out of the spaces nearest the door by allowing only disabled and parent-and-child parking there.  Disabled, absolutely.  I have a blue badge on my car belonging to my mother, and these spaces are really essential - especially if we haven't brought the wheelchair, as she can only walk a short distance with her stick.

However, what the parent-and-child contingent need is wide parking bays.  Not to be right beside the door.  I get narked too if it's cold and pouring with rain and I feel like hell, to see all the close-up spaces reserved for people with children who are usually perfectly mobile once they're out of the car and organised.

Rolfe.

Thats another thing I dont agree with (Sorry rolfe) but your mothers badge belongs to her, not the car or you.

[VWKev]

Never knew it became fraud, that is interesting although I'd never say to them personally.
I'm sure I heard one of the bigger supermarkets in Glasgow (could be Asda) were going to clamp down on the abuse of these kind of spaces but I don't know where they stand legally.

As for the it's "p*ssing down" and the young mother with a perfectly fit 6 year old and an old couple that don't meet the badge criteria. I suppose both will think their needs are greater. But some folk are just so self righteous and don't give a sh*t about others needs. Which is basically the problem with a lot of folk nowadays.

Then there are others that make lifestyle changes which is their own decision, and think that they should then have preferential treatment. Those type are the worst.

[rjwojcik]

Enjoy 'em while they are young, when they get to 17 they start muttering about driving lessons & insurance 

and when they pass, borrowing the car (gulp)

[Rolfe]

Thats another thing I dont agree with (Sorry rolfe) but your mothers badge belongs to her, not the car or you.

Excuse me?  Where did I say I would use a blue-badge space if she wasn't in the car?  I'd need my freaking head examined to do such a thing.

I was talking about how essential the spaces were if I had her in the car but we hadn't brought the wheelchair, because she can only walk short distances without it.

Rolfe.

[VWKev]

Thats another thing I dont agree with (Sorry rolfe) but your mothers badge belongs to her, not the car or you.

Excuse me?  Where did I say I would use a blue-badge space if she wasn't in the car?  I'd need my freaking head examined to do such a thing.

I was talking about how essential the spaces were if I had her in the car but we hadn't brought the wheelchair, because she can only walk short distances without it.

Rolfe.

I made an assumption and shouldnt have, I apologise.