Fears blue badge holders could be hit with £70 fines for parking outside homes as woman fined

Maria Rodriguez has been hit with a number of penalty charge notices for parking on a small strip of double yellow lines near her home in Southport, sparking outcry among locals

A disabled woman has sparked public outrage after receiving numerous £70 fines for parking on double yellow lines near her home. Despite owning a Blue Badge, Maria Rodriguez has struggled with the parking situation due to the incorrect display of her badge and time card, according to the BBC.

She has been fighting for resident parking permits or a disabled bay for five years but to no avail. Sefton Council insists that the penalties were appropriately distributed following national guidelines.

Rodriguez, who has lived in her property for over two decades, spoke out about her predicament: "I'm just tired of all this because I keep getting £70 fines for parking outside my own house."

READ MORE: DWP benefit claimed by 1.6 million people to be scrapped

The 76-year-old further lamented the daily struggles she faces, calling her life a "daily battle" from the lack of adequate parking adjustments for her disability. She went on to express her struggle: "If people had someone in their family, they would probably understand and they could make their voice heard louder than mine because I live alone and it's difficult to get people to listen."

Rodriguez, burdened with mobility problems, often finds herself having to park far from her residence owing to the lack of a specific disabled parking spot. She stressed the challenge of being single with mobility issues and not being listened to, highlighting that her requests for a disabled parking bay have been disregarded.

The motorist acknowledged that family support might have improved her chances of effecting parking changes by her home. Sefton Council weighed in with a spokesperson stating: "There are a number of nationally set rules and responsibilities that must be adhered to when using a blue badge.

“One of those rules states that all blue badge holders must ensure their badges or time clocks are displayed correctly and made visible in the vehicle they are using, regardless of where they park. " Failing to do so might lead to a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).