How to Beat ANPR Parking – What You Should Know
Have you got a private parking fine from ANPR and are feeling unsure about what to do next? You’ve come to the right place. Every month, more than 130,000 people visit our website for advice on fines and parking tickets.
This article will guide you through:
- Understanding what ANPR parking is.
- Knowing if you really need to pay ANPR parking fines.
- Learning how to appeal an ANPR parking fine.
- Getting tips to avoid an ANPR parking fine in the future.
The DVLA report that over 11 million parking tickets were issued last year, which is up by 29% year on year!1. So you’re not alone.
We know it’s hard to deal with a private parking fine. But don’t worry; we’ve got a lot of useful tips and real-life examples to make things easier for you.
Most Ticket Appeals Succeed
In some circumstances, you might have a legitimate reason not to pay your parking fine.
It’s a bit sneaky, but the last time I needed legal advice, I paid £5 for a trial to chat with an online solicitor called JustAnswer.
Not only did I save £50 on solicitor fees, I also won my case and didn’t have to pay my £271 fine.
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*According to Martin Lewis, 56% of people who try to appeal their ticket are successful and get the charge overturned, so it’s well worth a try.
What is ANPR?
Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) converts a number plate’s image into optical character recognition (machine-encoded text).
The technology is used across:
- CCTV surveillance
- Traffic enforcement cameras
- ANPR-specific cameras
Two groups typically use ANPR2 technology:
- Private enforcement companies, local councils and the Department for Transport
- Law Enforcement Agencies which include the Police
The technology helps privately-run car parks because it makes the following possible:
- Ticketless car park management systems
- Visibility of car park
- Payment processes
ANPR takes timed photographs of vehicles that enter and exit a car park which calculates the length of time a driver had stayed.
POPLA is working hard to address issues that cause unfair parking fees. Main issues are often with technology and third-party ticket issuers. 3
You see, when you make multiple visits within 24 hours, the first entry is paired with the last exit. The result? A driver has overstayed their time in a car park.
Do you have to pay their fine?
Parking Charge Notices issued by ANPR Parking are not classed as real fines.
They are seen as invoices from the company for breaching the conditions of using the car park. You agree to these conditions when entering the car park, as should be stated on car park signage.
You’re not obligated to pay the parking charge notice unless a judge says you have to and issues you with a court order.
So you only have to pay if this happens.
However, you may want to pay to avoid legal action taken against you and the possibility of paying further fees. Instead of paying and chancing your luck so you won’t be taken to court, you could consider appealing if you have a legitimate reason you think the ticket is unfair.
Successful Appeal Case Study
Situation
| Initial Fine | £100 |
| Additional Fees | £171 |
| Total Fine | £271 |
The Appeal Process
Scott used JustAnswer, online legal service to enhance his appeal. The trial of this cost him just £5.
| Total Fine | £271 |
| Cost of legal advice | £5 |
JustAnswer helped Scott craft the best appeal possible and he was able to win his case.
Scott’s fine was cancelled and he only paid £5 for the legal help.
In partnership with Just Answer.
Explanation of ANPR PCNs
A parking ticket from ANPR Parking is a Parking Charge Notice.
These are private parking fines as opposed to council parking fines. They could be left on your vehicle if there’s a parking warden present, but due to the use of cameras, this is unlikely.
The car park is more likely to be monitored by ANPR technologies. The operator will identify the number plates of offending drivers and then ask the DVLA for these car owners’ addresses.
They then send the Parking Charge Notice out in the post. These normally arrive by post within 14 days. If a parking charge notice arrives on your doormat it’s worth checking the dates. If it arrives 14 days after the alleged offence, you may not be liable to pay.
Private companies are allowed to issue fines of up to £100, however, this is about to change.
A new parking fine cap is being introduced which will only allow these types of companies to charge a maximum of £50.
The new laws may not come into play until 2023 or even later.
» TAKE ACTION NOW: Get legal support from JustAnswer
Case study: ANPR Parking Services contact
I’ve included a message from a motorist who could not find the ANPR Parking Services address.
Source: Moneysavingexpert
How do you appeal?
Janine, our financial expert, advises to formally appeal a parking ticket within 28 days of receipt, providing evidence such as a photo of your car’s registration number if the PCN is incorrect. ANPR Parking must respond within 35 days. If they reject your appeal you can take it to an independent appeals service for a final decision.
Here’s a quick table that will help you better understand the appeal process. If you want to learn more, don’t forget to read our complete guide.
| Process: | Steps you should take: |
|---|---|
| When you receive the ticket… | You should gather as much evidence as you can to support your appeal claim and prove that the ticket was unfairly issued. |
| If you were given the ticket in person/attached to your car… | You must make an informal appeal (sent to the local authority/council that issued the PCN) within 14 days. This should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given. |
| If it was posted to you… | You will be given 21 days to submit an informal appeal (from the day you received the letter). Your informal appeal should be a letter with the evidence proving why the ticket was incorrectly given. |
| If the informal appeal is rejected… | You will receive a Notice to Owner and will have 28 days to respond to this with a formal appeal. You can conduct the formal appeal online or via paper form. The Traffic Penalty Tribunal can send you one of these forms. |
| If the formal appeal is rejected… | You will receive a Notice of Rejection. From here, you are free to challenge the council’s verdict at an independent tribunal. |
| If the independent tribunal disagrees with your appeal… | You should pay the ticket within 28 days of the tribunal rejecting your appeal. If you don’t, the fine will be increased by 50%. If you don’t have the money to pay the fine, you should contact Citizens Advice or another debt charity. |
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What is the best excuse to appeal a parking ticket?
The best excuse to appeal a private parking fine is that you did pay and park correctly. But it’s only the best excuse if you can prove there has been a mistake, such as a payment receipt.
Some other excuses that could work are:
- You were within the 10-minute grace period. Private parking companies like Parking Eye must abide by the grace period before issuing a ticket.
- You broke down and were waiting for assistance
- You had no way to pay (photos of out-of-order machines will be necessary)
- You had a medical emergency
However, if you don’t have any proof you might want to consider paying the fine.
If you ignore a private parking fine, the private car park operator could take further action against you for not paying. This further action could result in having to pay, and you may incur further charges.
While private parking fines aren’t enforceable initially, if you go to court, they could be.
Tips on avoiding an ANPR Parking fine
Read more about the best excuses to get out of a parking fine.
Hire a Parking Solicitor for less than a coffee.
If you’re thinking about appealing your parking ticket then getting some professional advice is a good idea.
Getting the support of a Solicitor can make your appeal much more likely to win.
For a £5 trial, Solicitors from JustAnswer can look at your case and help you create an airtight appeal.
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References
