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UK: Driver Fined for Parking in Disabled Bay Despite Showing Amputated Leg

If you're living in the United Kingdom and you go shopping at the mall, be sure to have your disabled parking permit before leaving your house. Otherwise, you could get a fine of no less than 70 pounds no matter how hard you strive to convince the parking wardens that you have a prosthetic leg.

It happened to 63-year-old Sylvia Taylor in Costco, Cardiff, as she forgot her disabled parking permit at home. She still parked in a disabled bay but she got a 70 pounds fine, although she tried to show the warden that she has a false leg. How? Simple: she just rolled up her trouser leg in front of the warden, as the DailyMail Online writes.

"I explained to the car park attendant but I thought he didn't believe me. So I rolled up my trouser leg to show him my false limb - there was no arguing with that. He wouldn't cancel it but told us to write to head office and explain what had happened," she was quoted as saying by the aforementioned source.

Sylvia, who was accompanied by her daughter Lynne Solly, tried to contact Euro Car Parks, the administrator of the local mall park, to cancel the fine.

"We sent them a letter which included a copy of mum's disabled permit but they wouldn't budge. They have the power to withdraw the charge but they are not prepared to do it - despite us proving we had a genuine reason to park in a disabled bay. Mum says she would rather give up her blue badge and have her leg back. The way we've been treated is disgusting," Lynne explained.

But the letter sent to Euro Car Parks had no effect until Sylvia wrote a letter of appeal. A spokeswoman for the park admin said the company is not responsible for those who forget the parking permit at home, but revealed that the company agreed to cancel the fine this time.

"Disabled badge holders cannot use the disabled bay facilities without displaying a valid badge. If you forget the badge, then alternative parking should be sought. It is not our intention to cause any problems for genuine customers. But if we fail to issue a parking charge notice to a vehicle abusing the disabled bay we are not providing the service to our client," the spokeswoman said.
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About the author: Bogdan Popa
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Bogdan keeps an eye on how technology is taking over the car world. His long-term goals are buying an 18-wheeler because he needs more space for his kid’s toys, and convincing Google and Apple that Android Auto and CarPlay deserve at least as much attention as their phones.
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