Motorists are being warned of parking issues they could encounter as councils across the country crack down on people using Blue Badge bays.
New data has shown that councils recorded almost 20,000 investigations into people misusing Blue Badge parking spaces over the last five years.
This resulted in 14,154 drivers being slapped with penalty charge notices, while 1,954 motorists were prosecuted for their parking offence.
While prosecutions for misusing a Blue Badge parking space are uncommon, they are the result of almost one in seven serious cases.
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Enforcement of parking bays is becoming a higher priority for owners of car parks, including monitoring Blue Badge spaces, EV charging bays and parent-and-child spaces.
Many car park owners are also taking steps to improve enforcement with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and other technologies.
The Freedom of Information Act data showed that people misusing disabled bays was more of an issue in major urban areas.
Commenting on the data, Larne O'Donoghue, spokesperson for YourParkingSpace, said: "Even with tight resources, our research makes it very clear that councils are still cracking down on anyone misusing disabled bays.
Councils and car park owners are cracking down on the misuse of Blue Badge parking bays
|GETTY
"Taking a space that isn't yours can ruin someone's day - and the likelihood of being fined or prosecuted is much higher than most people think."
Separate data shows that more than two-thirds of motorists have caught another driver using a disabled bay without displaying a Blue Badge.
Many councils allow motorists to report instances of people misusing Blue Badges through their websites.
Drivers should provide details about the Blue Badge number, location, date and time, and any further information that could help to crack down on the issue.
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Councils work with the police and other local authorities to ensure people are not using disabled parking spaces if they are not eligible.
In serious cases, anti-fraud teams at councils may be involved, with intentional misuse potentially leading to a fine of up to £1,000 and prosecution.
Mr O'Donoghue added: "While parking in a disabled bay without permission is never acceptable, we know that many drivers end up in the wrong space because they're stressed, in a rush or simply can't find anywhere else to park.
"Pre-booking a space removes that pressure and stops people making poor decisions in the moment."
More than 2.8 million drivers across the UK possess a Blue Badge | GETTY Drivers can apply for a Blue Badge through the GOV.UK website at a cost of £10 in England and £20 in Scotland. Drivers in Wales do not need to pay anything.
The permit is valid for up to three years, with drivers needing to reapply for a Blue Badge before their current one expires.
To apply, drivers will need a number of documents, including a recent photo showing their head and shoulders, proof of identity, proof of address and proof of benefits, if applicable.
They will also require their National Insurance number and the details of their current Blue Badge if they are reapplying.