town and country parking go all geeky.

torontoboy45

I posted a while back about how the unwashed sphincters at TCP had come over all techie and invested in cutting-edge technology that virtually guarantees that anyone using my local waitrose car park will be issued a 'ticket' for overstaying from 1 min upwards.

to recap: all bays are now numbered and fitted out with a (light-sensitive?) detector positioned on the tarmac. park up and the countdown to the 2hr max. begins.

overstay and a signal is sent to a hand-held device in the company of the parking attendant which identifies the bay. 'ticket' issued. simples.

anyways, last w/end I had a quick chat with the attendant about this 'revolution in park management'. to be fair to this guy, he's pleasant enough and only on TCP's books until he can find something better (which shouldn't be too difficult). he showed me the device and how it worked. 'keeps my job safe,at least'.

drawing on my huge reserves of cunning cunningness I probed ever deeper. 'I wouldn't bank on that, matey. it could be that some point in the future the signal will be sent to a remote location and the ticket sent from there'.

'ooh no' he said. 'the law's about to change. a ticket's got to be placed on the car'.

'a ticket's got to be placed on the car'.......

how very clever and farsighted of TCP to study the relevant provisions of the Freedom Bill, decide the game is up for APNR (or is that VNPR?) and to get their retaliation in first.

TCP has seen the future. and (they think) it works.

just wondering though: is my local waitrose being used as a testing-ground or are there other examples of 'techno breakthroughs' out there?

Coupon-mad

Never heard of it - but surely all one would have to do to avoid a fake ticket (not that it matters) is to move your car to a neighbouring bay once you've done a Waity's shop and then go off into town for lunch.

AlexisV

TCP operate this at Asda Trafford Park

Coblcris

This technology is well known. You will find articles and advertisements for it in the trade publications.

bromsgrovebarry

Is there any way we can activate the sensor such as putting something over them? I am sure that some of the very clever bods who frequent this forum can say how somebody could have fun and games at the scammer's expense. Of course, I could not condone such immaturity!

Coupon-mad

Try putting a square of cardboard heavy enough not to be easily blown away under each car?! Cardboard with a message clearly saying 'Gotcha! with the compliments of the online joint forums campaign to rid car parks of private parking companies and their bogus 'PCNs'.'

I was going to say some black paint late at night but they could probably say that might be criminal damage and MSE doesn't condone that...so cardboard is my best idea at the mo.

torontoboy45

bromsgrovebarry wrote: »

Is there any way we can activite the sensor such as putting something over them? I am sure that some of the very clever bods who frequent this forum can say how somebody could have fun and games at the scammer's expense. If course, I could not condone such immaturity!

juvenile delinquency? not a problem, but I'll wait to see just how effective this 21st c. state of the art scamware is before I nip into the garage for the can of black spray paint.;)

peter_the_piper

Drive in wait 1hour 55 mins (to allow for error) reverse out and then reverse back in again, another 2hours free at the shop(s)

peter_the_piper

Coupon-mad wrote: »

Try putting a square of cardboard heavy enough not to be easily blown away under each car?! Cardboard with a message clearly saying 'Gotcha! with the compliments of the online joint forums campaign to rid car parks of private parking companies and their bogus 'PCN's.

Even the thickest ppc troll would go to the bay and see there's no car there,(ticket stuck to cardboard?) Mind you he/she would have to justify why no ticket was issued.

bromsgrovebarry

Coupon mad- the cardboard is a great idea. Perhaps the message could be 'unauthorised removal is an offence'. Bit like the messages printed on the envelopes of fake pcns.

fb1969

I wonder if you could train a dog to do its business on their wonderous sensor?