uk.people.disability

"Palindrome" wrote in message
news: $ @ ...
> Serena Blanchflower wrote:
>> * Palindrome wrote, On 11/09/2007 23:37:
>>
>>>
>>> I would suggest that what is needed is an RFID chipped badge - that gets
>>> rid of the duplicated copies and theft of badges - a stolen one would be
>>> rendered useless, within hours of being reported, simply by being
>>> removed from the database.
>>
>> Yes, I think that would be an excellent approach. Of course, stolen ones
>> would probably still be usable for on street parking but it would
>> certainly help.
>
> Traffic wardens, even police cars, could have RFID readers to scan the car
> (and hence the badge) as they walked/drove past. It would only take an
> instant to spot a car without a badge. A quick photograph and a fixed
> penalty ticket in the post..
>
>>
>>> Plus require supermarkets and other off-road parking to have a
>>> barrier-protected disabled parking area, with the exit automatic
>>> barriers having a transponder sensing the badge.
>>>
>>> Finally, if the badge holder is not present when a traffic warden/
>>> police office/ cso checks the car, one "point" will be added to the
>>> badge. After 2 points in any calendar month, the badge is deactivated
>>> for the remainder of the month.
>>
>> The problem with that is that the badge holder will probably only be
>> present for a few minutes, when arriving and leaving. In between those
>> times, they are likely to be away from the car and unavailable for
>> checking.
>>
>> Even if the warden (or other official) was present when the car either
>> arrived or left (but not both), it would be hard for them to
>> differentiate between cheats and people who were using the badge
>> legitimately to drop off or collect the badge holder.
>>
> I was only thinking of such checks being carried out as the vehicle
> arrives or leaves.
>
> I reckon that:
>
> 1) if a car arrives without the badge holder, the driver should be given 5
> mins to produce them. No badge holder within that time, 1 point.
>
> 2) if a car is in a bay for 5 mins and the driver returns without a
> badgeholder, then 1 point.
>
> In both cases, the warden can afford the 5 minutes needed to complete the
> check.
>
> In the first situation, 5 mins is long enough for able bodied drivers to
> collect a badge holder waiting for their arrival.
>
> In the second, 5 mins is long enough for able bodied drivers to escort the
> badge holder to the place intended.
>
> The points scheme allows for those odd instances where things take much
> longer than intended.
>
> --
> Sue
>
First off I do apologise if these points have been made before. I do seem to
forget stuff these days, now what was I saying, LOL. This is a serious
problem which does need attention. there are no quick answers unfortunately
but somewhere between all our suggestions and very possibly more to come,
could there not be some starting point? I do believe that the people who
knowingly use false BB should be severely dealt with. Should it turn out
that a DP had actually sold the BB then that DP should also be dealt with. I
see many adverts on the Tv and at the cinema for no smoking, drinking etc.
How about a gov campaign to instruct people that using a disabled bay or a
false BB is simply not on? I agree that simply looking at a driver does not
tell you if that person is disabled or not. To look at me you cannot tell,
until I start to move. Could some kind of barcode be put on a BB which is
then checked with the photo on file back at the main office / computer. Yes
I do realise this would mean a hand held unit for the warden etc, but in
this day and age surely that is possible? After all they wish us to have an
ID card.

John.