Illegal disabled badges sold in closed Facebook groups for up to 1,500 kroner
Stolen and homemade disabled badges are openly traded in Facebook groups with over 10,000 members. The Conservative People's Party now wants to revoke the cheaters' driving licences.
Trade in fake disabled badges flourishes on social media
Stolen and self-made disabled badges are being sold to ordinary Danes in closed Facebook groups with over 10,000 members. TV 2 Nyheder reports this, having mapped the trade in the blue parking permit.
An illegal disabled badge typically costs between 1,000 and 1,500 kroner, according to Henrik Olsen, security expert and partner at Unisecure.
– It is Mr and Mrs Jensen, who are quite openly trading in stolen goods. Perfectly ordinary people, who perhaps don't even run red lights, Henrik Olsen tells TV 2 Kosmopol.
According to the expert, the threshold for acquiring an illegal badge has fallen markedly.
– It has become easy to get hold of, and not like in the old days, when you had to stand down by a station on a dark evening, he says.
Conservatives want to revoke driving licences
The Conservative People's Party is now presenting a proposal that should crack down harder on disabled parking fraud. The party wants to revoke people's driving licences in case of misuse, strengthen police controls, implement special police operations and launch a national campaign against the fraud.
– This fraud is at the expense of vulnerable people, and it is both improper and unacceptable. We will not accept it, and therefore we believe that if someone cheats in such a cynical manner, then the hammer must also fall, social and disability spokesperson Birgitte Bergman (K) tells TV 2 Kosmopol.
Henrik Olsen supports the tougher sanctions and points out that the problem is growing steadily.
– There is no doubt that it has deteriorated considerably. We only see an increase in both groups and the number of people who are in these Facebook groups, he says.
Morality and shared responsibility
Olsen stresses that responsibility does not rest solely with politicians. The choices of Danes themselves play a decisive role.
– It is somewhat down to Danish morality here, because without fences there are no thieves. We are willing to make a good deal and perhaps distance ourselves a bit and say: "well, I haven't stolen anything", the expert says.
His practical advice to people trading goods online is to insist on electronic payment. This leaves a digital trail that documents that the buyer did not themselves steal the goods.
– There are not many petty criminals who want to receive payment in that way, Olsen says.
Local residents support tougher punishment
TV 2 Kosmopol has previously described how residents on Kastruplundgade in Tårnby have for years suspected widespread fraud with disabled badges in the area. When the media again sought out one of the locals, the reaction to the proposal for stricter penalties was positive.
– I think it is a brilliant idea, because it is hopeless. They do not care and do whatever suits them, so it is only right if they have their card taken away, says Brian Jensen from Tårnby.
Jensen recounted that on Monday he could see seven cars with disabled badges from just his own window.
Current penalties
Anyone who today cheats with a disabled badge risks being charged with fraud, document forgery or misuse of a genuine document. According to TV 2 Nyheder, these cases typically end with a fine or a suspended prison sentence.
Source: TV 2 Nyheder