Council steps up enforcement as disabled parking bay fines soar in Sheffield
Sheffield City Council has ramped up enforcement against drivers misusing disabled parking bays, issuing more than 11,500 fines in five years as it confirms it is handing out more penalty charge notices than in the past.
Figures show the council issued 11,501 penalty charge notices (PCNs) between 2019 and 2024 to motorists parked in disabled bays without displaying a valid Blue Badge.
The data was obtained through a Freedom of Information request as part of a national study by car retailer Evans Halshaw.
The number of fines has risen sharply in recent years, peaking in 2022 when 2,868 PCNs were issued - more than double the figure recorded in 2021.
High levels of enforcement continued in 2023, with 2,733 fines issued, followed by a further 2,252 in 2024.
Sheffield City Council said the increase reflects a crackdown on misuse of disabled bays.
Councillor Joe Otten, Chair of the Environmental Services and Regulation Policy Committee, said: “We are issuing more PCN’s now than we have done in the past to stop people using disabled parking bays when they don’t have a blue badge.
“These bays are for people who need them due to a disability so that they have access to the same places as everyone else. We urge people to keep disabled bays clear for them.
“We do also occasionally issue PCNs to people who have a blue badge, but who park without displaying it correctly or at all.”
Of the 11,501 fines issued over the six-year period, 10,918 were issued on-street and 583 in off-street car parks.
The annual breakdown shows 1,080 PCNs were issued in both 2019 and 2020, rising to 1,488 in 2021 before the significant increase seen from 2022 onwards.
The face value of fines issued totalled £653,804, with £621,366 related to on-street fines and £32,438 to off-street offences.
The council also identified 640 repeat offenders - vehicles that received more than one PCN for the same offence - with the highest number recorded in 2022, when 186 drivers were fined more than once.
While exact figures for individual locations were not released, Sheffield City Council highlighted several repeat hotspots across the city.
Common on-street locations included Norfolk Street, Surrey Street, Union Street, Rockingham Gate and Charles Street.
Frequently flagged off-street locations included Carver Lane, Wellington Street, Eldon Street and Rockingham Street car parks.
Julie Wallman, Divisional Marketing Director at Evans Halshaw, said the figures highlight the scale of the issue.
“Disabled parking bays exist to ensure safe and accessible travel for people with limited mobility, whether they’re heading to a supermarket, medical appointment, or just going about their day,” she added.
“When drivers use these spaces without a Blue Badge, it reduces availability for those who genuinely need them.
“These figures show just how common this issue is across Sheffield and the rest of the UK, and highlight the importance of keeping accessible spaces available, particularly as more people rely on mobility solutions to support independent living.”
The data covers the period from 2019 to 2024 and was supplied by Sheffield City Council following a Freedom of Information request submitted in June 2025.