WHAT IS ANPR?
Firstly, Automatic Number Plate Recognition is not a speed camera.
ANPR. is where your car can have it's number plate read via a
video camera and this information is then matched against various
computer databases, for example:the Driver Vehicle Licence Authority
(DVLA), Police National Computer (PNC), motor insurers databases
and local police force intelligence systems. In addition, many bailiff companies now use ANPR to locate vehicles with an unpaid PCN.
There are many different ANPR cameras now in use. Typically, they are located in white transit vans parked at the side of the road, in police patrol cars, and at dedicated fixed sites. In the case of transit vans, there will normally be two flaps on the back where the cameras are concealed. Some vans have police markings….but most don’t!!!
In urban areas, they are located via Closed Circuit Television (CCTV).
However, in and around London, they are now being fitted into Mercedes Smart Cars, some having a camera sign on the side….others not !!
If a number plate is matched to one of theses sources, the ANPR
equipment will sound an alarm and
in the case of vehicles with no insurance or road tax, intercept teams are alerted to stop
your car for further investigation, with unlicensed or uninsured
vehicles likely to be clamped and impounded
on the spot.
Although ANPR is vitally important in locating stolen vehicles or those without insurance or tax etc, their use by bailiff companies pursuing unpaid PCN's has been shown to cause many problems.
In particular, there are many reports where the motorist was totally unaware of the existence of the PCN until his vehicle was located by the bailiff's ANPR vehicle. From many cases that we know of, this problem has arisen because all of the statutory notices and letters had gone to a previous address..... despite the owner changing his details at DVLA when he moved home. The reason for this is because the local authority can only use the address where the vehicle was registered on the day that the PCN was incurred. Therefore, the bailiff would have visited a previous property where the owner no longer lives and his only hope of getting the PCN paid, is if his ANPR equipped vehicle locates the car number plate when driving around. This is most likely to happen in and around London.
It is vitally important to note that if your car was seized by bailiff's using ANPR the bailiff must provide you with a copy of the Warrant of Execution provided by the Traffic Enforcement Centre. This is the legal document enabling the bailiff to pursue the outstanding PCN (he must by law also provide a Notice of Seizure of Goods & Inventory).
The above scenario happens many times and because the motorist is adamant that he does not have an outstanding PCN this invariably involves police being called. If this were to happen, the bailiff himself would know instantly from the details on the Warrant of Execution the address where all letters had been sent. It is important to note that even if you have informed DVLA or even the local authority when applying for a new residents permit of your new address, the bailiff is prohibited by law from visiting an address other than that on the Warrant of Execution.
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