DISABLED people could be unfairly penalised by reforms to the system that gives them access to preferential parking spaces, lawyers have warned.

The Law Society of Scotland has raised concerns over proposed changes to the blue- badge system, which allows people with reduced mobility to leave their cars in parking bays marked for the disabled.

There are more than one- quarter-of-a-million blue badges in use in Scotland, all issued by local authorities to disabled people who would find it difficult to use public transport.

Dennis Robertson MSP has been consulting on possible new legislation aimed at strengthening the law around the misuse of blue badges, which includes the threat to take them away if they are misused by an able-bodied family member or friend.

Rory McPherson, convener of the society's equalities com-mittee, said: "The blue-badge scheme has been of huge value since it was introduced over 40 years ago and has helped hundreds of thousands of Scots with restricted mobility.

"Mr Robertson and other MSPs are right to look at sensible reforms that help to tackle the fraudulent use of blue badges so we can maintain public confidence in the system and protect parking spaces for genuine badge holders.

"However, the proposals as written risk harming potentially innocent people who have their badges misused by a carer or relative without their knowledge. We simply do not think it fair such people would have their badges confiscated prior to a fair and proper investigation taking place."

Transport Scotland research has shown more than three- quarters of blue-badge holders had experienced misuse of blue badges or disabled persons parking spaces in recent years.