Harlington Driver Convicted for Misusing Late Mother’s Blue Badge
A Harlington resident has been convicted for illegally using her late mother’s disabled Blue Badge following a council crackdown on parking fraud. Emma Welch, of Westoning Road, was prosecuted at Luton Magistrates’ Court after being caught by council officers during a targeted enforcement operation in May.
Welch was found using her deceased mother’s cancelled Blue Badge and admitted to the court that she mistakenly believed she could continue using it because she had paid for it before her mother passed away. She received fines and penalties totaling £284.
Councillor John Baker, representative for finance and highways, stated: “These convictions highlight the importance of protecting the integrity of the Blue Badge system. Misuse deprives genuine badge holders of accessible parking spaces. Our enforcement actions and the resulting penalties send a clear message that we will not tolerate any abuse of this service, and those who misuse it will be held accountable. We will continue our efforts to safeguard the rights of our disabled residents.”
The council has emphasized its commitment to maintaining the fairness of the Blue Badge scheme and ensuring that parking spaces remain available for those who truly need them.