Watford Borough Council

Blue Badge Holders are permitted to park on single and double yellow lines for up to 3 hours, provided that they do not cause an obstruction across a driveway, dropped kerb or pedestrian crossing place where the kerb has been lowered etc. It is also advisable not to park too close to the corner of the road.

They must fully display a Blue Badge, showing the expiry date, serial number, issuing authority and a clock, correctly set at the beginning of their stay.

You also risk incurring a Penalty Charge Notice if your Blue Badge is partially obscured, or displayed photograph side up. It should be clearly displayed on the dashboard next to the clock.

In the pedestrian zone in the High Street/Parade, there are two types of disabled bays;
One type are purely for Blue Badge holders during specific times and another are dual use for Blue Badge holders and commercial vehicles for loading and unloading but each group have different times when they can use them, which are shown on signs adjacent to the bays.

Blue Badge holders may also park in pay and display spaces, on-street, free of charge, or a free on street limited wait bay, without time limit if they fully display their Blue Badge. (Unless the bay / bays have been suspended when suspension notices will be displayed nearby).

Although there may be special wide spaces for blue badge holders, you are not permitted to park in an off street pay and display car park without a valid pay and display ticket. Please check the tariff board for details.

They are not permitted to park on double yellow lines where there is a loading ban. This will be denoted by kerbside blips and time plates on posts. You cannot park during the hours specified on the time plates. In addition you may not park at a bus stop, coach bay or a taxi rank or in a bay meant for other types of users.

You are not permitted to park in the High Street/Parade (between Albert Road South and King Street) other than in the signed Disabled Badge Holders bays provided, at the specified times, which are shown on the signs adjacent to the bays. If you park beyond the bay, you risk getting a ticket.

During the hours of the Controlled Parking Scheme (Monday to Saturday 8am to 6.30pm) or Match Day Scheme (1pm and 6.30pm, Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday matches, and 6pm to 10pm for weekday matches) you are not permitted to park in a “permit holders only” bay unless you are a resident with a residents permit or a residents visitor with a residents visitor scratch card permit. Within the permit holder bays in the controlled parking zones, you may see some “advisory bays” where a disabled symbol is painted on the road. These have been specifically installed for disabled residents who must also display a valid residents permit or voucher. These bays are not intended for use by other disabled motorists who are not resident permit holders.

If you are given a penalty charge notice when you were parked in an appropriate space it may be for one of the following reasons:

a) because your Blue Badge was not clearly visible or because it was obstructed by your time clock.
b) because the details on your Blue Badge were faded or unreadable. *
c) because you were not displaying a time clock.
d) because you had exceeded the time noted on your time clock.
e) because your Blue Badge had expired.

Remember you must not park where there is a loading ban in force, at a bus stop or in a “permit holders only bay”. In addition you are not allowed to park on a dropped kerb/in front of a private driveway or at a pedestrian crossing place (these usually have textured paving in front of the dropped kerb)

If you require any clarification of the above please telephone the Parking Shop on 01908 223 507.
* Please contact your local Social Services Department for a new badge.

Many disabled badge holders are puzzled as to why they have been given a parking ticket.

The main reasons that tickets are issued to badge holders are as follows:

• because both badge and clock have not been fully visible, on the dashboard of the car. Enforcement Officers must be able to read all of the details including the expiry date, and if the badge has been overlapped by the clock and the details can’t be seen a ticket will be issued.
• because badge holders have parked on a bus stop clearway or on a loading ban. Motorists should check lines and signs at all times. Loading bans are accompanied by marks on the kerb and there will also be a time plate nearby.
• because they have parked in a bay designated for other road users, for example a taxi rank or loading bay, or for permit holders only. Loading bays are sometimes restricted all day and in other cases only at certain times of the day.
• because they have parked across a driveway where there is a dropped kerb or on a dropped pavement crossing.

Always check the signs which may change from time to time.  Please remember:

The badge may only be used if the named badge holder is leaving the car.

The badge cannot be used by a person doing an errand on behalf of a badge holder.

The badges should never be left in your car when they are not in use as this makes your car susceptible to theft and possible vandalism. Your badge is a valuable commodity and should be looked after carefully.

Finally, never assume that you can park anywhere, and always be aware of safety for other road users. Please read carefully the instructions that were issued to you when you were given your badge. Your badge does not give you the right to cause danger to other road users.

The maximum penalty for misuse of a badge is £1,000.