A special project run to clamp down on the illegal use of blue parking badges resulted in 449 tickets being issued to drivers last year.
Under the scheme, which was set up by Leeds City Council in October 2010, tickets are given after observational checks are carried out on drivers who are suspected of misusing the blue badge system.
The YEP previously reported how thousands of disabled people were left outraged when they told they would have to pay £10 for a blue badge which entitles the user to park in disabled-only bays.
After a Freedom of Information request by the YEP, council figures also revealed that 6,110 driving offences were committed in disabled parking bays last year.
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This figure, which included drivers using a badge fraudulently or parking without a badge at all, was lower than the total for 2010 of 6,872.
Helen Dolphin is director of policy and campaigns at Disabled Motoring UK.
She told the YEP: “We estimate that in big cities like Leeds, about half the blue badges being used don’t belong to the people who own them.
“The punishments for people who misuse them are simply not enough as the money they’re saving by avoiding parking charges is worth the odd small fine.
“Anyone found guilty of this should be taken to court and prosecuted straight away.”
Anyone found to be using a badge illegally can face fines of up to £1,000 and prosecution if they are caught.
In April this year, Charlotte Rank from Morley became the first woman to be prosecuted for abusing the scheme after she was caught using the badge illegally four times.
Coun Mark Dobson is Leeds City Council’s executive member for the environment.
He said: “Using a blue badge to get free parking when you’re not entitled to it is a cynical abuse of a system aimed at helping disabled people access places and facilities they need to get to.
“We will not tolerate it.”
Anyone who suspects someone of using a blue badge illegally can call the confidential helpline on 0113 247 4645 or email: concerns@leeds.gov.uk
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