Parking rule that landed driver with 'foreign disabled badge' £100 fine during school run

A motorist has been slapped with a £100 penalty and received three penalty points for attempting to use a 'foreign disabled badge'.

The Ford Ranger pick-up was spotted on a zebra crossing right in front of a school in Astley, Greater Manchester as reported by the police. Greater Manchester Police have highlighted that the driver had displayed a 'foreign disabled badge' on their dashboard, but sent out a warning to others that 'it won't work'.

Detailing the incident on X, officers revealed that the individual behind the wheel was hit with both the fine and points on their driving record, reports the Manchester Evening News.

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The GMP Traffic account posted: "No matter how late you are, please don't park on the crossing right outside a school like this driver did in Astley this morning, and don't leave a foreign disabled badge that you found on the dash to get off with a ticket."

"It won't work! 3pts and £100 fine issued."

Parking rules explained

The highway code reminds drivers never to stop their vehicle over a crossing or within the area protected by the zig-zag markings. As police.uk explains: "Local councils can issue motorists with penalty charge notices (PCN) for waiting, stopping, or parking on yellow zigzags if restrictions are in place. These are issued by civil enforcement officers.

"Most parking or waiting fines are now enforced as a civil matter, rather than a police matter. A PCN does not result in a criminal record or points on a licence if dealt with by the council.

"In some areas, the local council doesn't have civil parking enforcement powers. In these areas parking is enforced by us or by police-employed traffic wardens who will issue a fixed penalty notice (FPN). These are enforced through the criminal justice system."

Meanwhile, to misuse a disabled badge is also considered a criminal offence..

The Department for Transport says: "You must use the Blue Badge properly. The badge and its concessions are for your use only.

"It is a criminal offence for you or anyone else to misuse the badge. Doing so could lead to a £1,000 fine and confiscation of the badge.."