Disabled parking: 'Time for tough action on blue badge fraud'

FEW crimes anger motorists more than the misuse of the blue badges which allow disabled drivers to park in places the rest of us cannot.

Displaying a badge you are not entitled to own may seem like a small misdemeanour in the scheme of things, and those who pull the trick would certainly argue that.

But they are cheating a system which is there to help the vulnerable stay mobile – while the rest of us are forced to hunt for, and pay for, legitimate parking spaces.

• Should fines for blue badge fraudsters be increased to 1,000? Vote here

That is why drivers who obey the law get so angry at the fraudsters. It is why so many of us look suspiciously at those who emerge from blue badged cars to see if they have any obvious signs of disability.

Unfortunately, it also means that some genuine badge holders are unfairly accused of cheating, and there have been cases of such drivers and their cars being attacked.

That is unacceptable, but then so is the fraud itself. It is good, therefore, that Edinburgh is taking the problem more seriously than most councils.

The city's own fraud checker has helped identify 60 cheats in 18 months – mostly people using badges which have been issued to someone else, such as a disabled parent or grandparent.

But we all know that this is just the tip of the iceberg, and most people will agree that it is time for tougher action. Never mind the 1,000 fines being called for – the law should be changed to allow points to be added to licences or for the culprits' cars to be taken away from them.

Blue badge fraud may not result in death or injury like some road-related crime. But it is invidious, and its victims are not just the disabled but everyone who plays by the rules.

Restaurant hygiene

IT IS worrying – and sometimes stomach churning – to contemplate the poor hygiene standards inspectors have found in some of the Capital's restaurants.

Rats, mouse droppings and beetles are not really what we should be thinking about as we peruse a menu ahead of dinner.

But diners should in some way be reassured by the cases we highlight today. The fact that such failings have been discovered suggests the system designed to protect us is working.

At the end of the day, the vast majority of local restaurants are managed well and don't fail their inspections. And the minority which do are revisited – and can be closed down if necessary.