Published January 07, 2016 3.51pm
A student has been fined for using her grandad's disabled parking badge while she met friends for coffee.
Hannah Kirby parked in a disabled bay, displaying a blue badge in her car, in New Elvet, Durham City, magistrates in Peterlee were told.
A blue badge investigator from our parking services team on patrol in the area traced the owner of the blue badge as a man who turned out to be Kirby's grandad.
Didn't intend to use badge
Meanwhile, a colleague called him and he confirmed he was at home, his badge hadn't been lost or stolen and he didn't intend to use it that day.
He added that his daughter looked after his badge and he was no longer able to drive.
Admitted badge wasn't hers
A short time later Kirby returned to the car and advised that the badge belonged to her grandad before confirming who she was.
She initially claimed that she had dropped her grandad off in Bowburn and her mother could have taken him home.
Coffee with friends
Kirby then revealed that she had been for coffee with friends and again insisted that she had brought her grandad in before her mother took him to her auntie's.
The blue badge investigator then told her that her colleague had spoken to her grandad who was at home and not using his blue badge that day.
Apology
Kirby said she understood how a blue badge should be used and was told she would be reported for misuse of a blue badge before replying: 'sorry for wasting your time today.'
Kirby, 21, of Moor View, Greencroft, pleaded guilty by post to misusing a blue badge and was fined £40 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £20 as well as £60 costs.
In mitigation she apologised for the offence and stated that her only income was a student loan.
Not fair on those who need parking space
Adrian White, our head of transport and contract services, said: 'Misuse of a blue badge by someone who is not disabled is an offence and anyone misusing a badge is also taking up a parking space that somebody with a disability may need.
'This case demonstrates that we will take action when we have to.'
Durham County Council issued this content on 2016-01-07 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 2016-01-07 16:16:20 UTC
Original Document: http://www.durham.gov.uk/article/7135/Student-fined-for-misuse-of-blue-badge
