People who are misusing disability blue badges to park their car are being warned by the Council today, following a number of concerns that have been raised.
Blue badges are issued to a person rather than a vehicle - to help assist those who are eligible in their daily lives.
It is estimated by the Department for Transport that 2.38 million badges have been issued in the UK and up to half a million are being misused.
In Cardiff, 18,000 badges have been issued to residents and an education and enforcement campaign has now begun, to ensure that blue badges are not being misused in the Welsh Capital.
A Spokesman for Cardiff Council, said: "This campaign isn't in any way targeting disabled people. Quite the opposite, we are taking action against those who shouldn't be using them. The measures that we are taking are supported by both the police and city centre retailers.
"When a blue badge is issued by a local authority, a leaflet is supplied giving detailed information to the person on how to use it.
"For example, if a badge is issued to a disabled child, the badge can only be used by the parent when the child is actually travelling in the car. The badge also cannot be given to someone else to use; cannot be used if it is no longer needed and cannot be used to wait by the side of a road if you don't plan to park the vehicle. We ask all those who have a blue badge, please use it correctly."
The Council is increasing blue badge inspections and anybody identified misusing a blue badge will have appropriate enforcement action taken against them and if necessary we will take these matters to court. The maximum fine that can be imposed by the court for misusing a blue badge is £1000.
A blue badge allows a disabled person to:
A blue badge holder can only let someone else use their badge if:
The Council is legally allowed to confiscate blue badges from anyone who is misusing them. An appeals process is in place, if a disabled person believes that their badge has been confiscated unlawfully.