Cars seized in enforcement operation
Two cars were seized and an arrest made by police and council officers checking the use of 'Blue Badges' in cars in Wimbledon.
Checks last week revealed three cases where people had illegally displayed a Blue Badge - which are only available for disabled people to use.
Civil enforcement officers issued Penalty Charge Notices to the drivers and police officers seized two cars, three illegally-used blue badges and made one arrest.
The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking and other motoring concessions for people who are registered blind or have severe mobility problems. The council says abuse of the scheme deprives residents, visitors to the borough and businesses of parking spaces and impacts on the reputation of the Blue Badge scheme and genuine blue badge holders.
Merton Council cabinet member for performance and Implementation Councillor Mark Betteridge said: "Blue Badges should only be used by those who are eligible. People who illegally display them in their vehicle should beware, because we will not tolerate abuse of the scheme. We always try to make parking in the borough as fair as possible, and that includes making provision for those people who find it difficult to get around and who therefore need to park as closely as possible to where they need to be."
A section on Blue Badges is includes in the council's enforcement policy, which can be found at: www.merton.gov.uk/parking_enforcement_policy.pdf.
Merton Council has also just published a CCTV Enforcement Manual as part of its transparency promise to motorists.
The manual has been published by the council in order to help road users gain a clearer understanding of how its traffic enforcement policy works and, in particular, how it uses CCTV (Closed Circuit Television) to enforce the highway code. The enforcement of traffic regulations by CCTV cameras is one of a number of measures the council takes to improve the reliability and punctuality of public transport and to reduce congestion.
The enforcement manual also includes information about CCTV data protection and legislation. Additionally it explains how, in line with national guidelines, enforcement vehicles are legally permitted to park on yellow lines, loading restrictions, in motorcycle bays or any other location while carrying out their statutory parking enforcement duties.
Merton's CCTV Enforcement Manual can be found on the council's website at: www.merton.gov.uk/parking.
November 30, 2012