Bogus parking charge notice

HO87

If you have "found out" as a result of what the PPC have told you then I would not be rushing to believe it any sooner than I would the reality of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and, of course, the Tooth Fairy.

It is in the interests of PPC's (in this case - S&K - the new boys on the block) to:

a). Maintain that their ANPR systems are 100% accurate and that, therefore, there must be a vehicle using the same registration number as yours in the Corby area.

b). Not to expend any more funds on POPLA appeals than they need to and especially in a case they know they will lose.

The truth is that ANPR systems are not accurate and that misreads (of registration numbers) are far higher than they are willing to admit.

Cloning exists but is extremely rare (in the sense it is intended here) as opposed to the very short-term use of "false plates" to cover the criminal use of an otherwise genuine vehicle. Getting false plates made up is far more difficult than it once was and as a consequence "false plates" are more usually stolen from the original, donor vehicle. I assume that you have not had a set of plates stolen off your vehicle?

That all aside, the chances of a vehicle bearing false plates being used for what would appear to have been a genuine shopping trip is, frankly, unlikely. It is far more likely that dirty camera lenses or, more likely, dirty number plates resulted in a misread.

Seriously, don't go accepting something a PPC has told you. Their sole interest is in persuading you to part with your cash. By all means report the matter to your local police but if you have not had other problems with Notices of Intended Prosecutions for speeding offences or other enquiries from the police or the DVLA, for example, then you may just find that it will be a couple hours of your life you simply will not get back.