ANPR camera error leads to successful parking appeal

The parking operator issued the parking charge notice (PCN) as the vehicle exceeded the maximum stay of two hours.

The appeal

The motorist explained that they visited the car park twice on the day: once in the morning to get a coffee on their way to work, and again in the evening to get some shopping on the way home from work.

They believed that the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras had only recorded the first entry and the last exit.

The parking operator provided ANPR images of the vehicle entering and exiting the site, which suggested it had stayed there for eight hours and 37 minutes. The motorist submitted vehicle tracking information showing that the vehicle had left the site between the times stated on the PCN and had been elsewhere for most of that period.

Outcome

The operator’s ANPR images showed the vehicle entering and exiting the site, but they could not show where the vehicle was in between. The motorist’s tracking information showed that the vehicle was elsewhere for most of the PCN period, which was consistent with their account of two separate visits. The assessor found this evidence more persuasive, and so could not be satisfied that the vehicle had been on site for the full eight hours and 37 minutes. As the operator had not shown that the motorist broke the parking terms, the appeal was allowed.

If you believe a parking charge has been issued incorrectly, find out more about the evidence you can provide and how to make an appeal in our POPLA appeal guide.