Can ANPR cameras be wrong?

Yes. Plate misreads, clock synchronisation errors, and barrier loop faults are documented failure modes. Courts have accepted ANPR errors as grounds to set aside charges. The operator bears the burden of proving the charge is based on accurate ANPR data — you do not need to prove the camera was wrong; you can simply put the operator to proof.

Is an ANPR charge valid without a windscreen ticket?

ANPR-only sites do not issue windscreen tickets. The charge is sent by post to the registered keeper. This is lawful under POFA 2012 Schedule 4 para 7(2)(b), which sets out the NtK timescales for non-windscreen-ticket sites. The POFA procedure must still be followed precisely.

What is the 10-minute observation rule for ANPR sites?

The BPA and IPC Codes of Practice require that at ANPR-enforced sites, a minimum observation period is observed before a charge is issued — typically 10 minutes after the permitted time has expired. This gives motorists time to return to their vehicles. A charge issued the moment the permitted period expires (with zero or minimal observation time) may breach the Code of Practice and be a ground for appeal.

ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition)

By GetRighted Legal Research TeamLast updated July 2026

Summary

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) uses camera systems to read vehicle registration plates as vehicles enter and exit a private car park, calculating dwell time automatically. Most large private car parks moved to ANPR enforcement after 2012. Because ANPR-only enforcement relies entirely on camera accuracy, errors — misread plates, camera clock drift, barriers that trigger multiple entry events, or vehicles caught at the exit camera for adjacent businesses — are a real source of wrongful charges. The BPA/IPC Codes of Practice require ANPR systems to be regularly calibrated and maintained, and operators must be able to produce calibration evidence.

How ANPR enforcement works

ANPR cameras capture an image of the number plate as a vehicle enters and again as it exits. Software calculates the duration of stay and triggers a charge if the vehicle exceeded the permitted time, left without payment, or failed to comply with site terms. The parking event data — entry time, exit time, registration — is stored by the operator and forms the basis of any charge. Operators must retain this data and provide it to motorists who challenge, as it is the primary evidence for the charge.

Common ANPR error types

Plate misreads occur when a dirty, partially obscured, or non-standard plate is captured incorrectly — one character difference can assign a charge to the wrong vehicle. Clock drift means the camera's internal clock is not synchronised, leading to inaccurate dwell time calculations. Barrier or loop errors occur at ticketed car parks when an entry event is logged twice (e.g., barrier raises for a vehicle ahead and captures two entry records). Nearby-site overlap happens when cameras cover shared access roads and capture vehicles visiting adjacent businesses, not the subject car park.

Request ANPR evidence as standard

Always request the ANPR entry and exit images, the timestamp data, and camera calibration certificates as part of any appeal. Operators are required under the BPA and IPC Codes of Practice to provide this evidence. If they cannot produce calibration records, this weakens the reliability of the charge significantly. If the entry or exit image is unclear or shows a different plate, the charge is unsustainable.

ANPR grounds to check for your appeal

✓Request the ANPR entry and exit photographs — check that the plate in the image matches your vehicle exactly.
✓Check the timestamps: are they consistent with your actual arrival and departure? Do they match your fuel receipts, bank transactions, or phone location data?
✓Ask for camera calibration and maintenance records — the operator must be able to demonstrate the system was functioning correctly.
✓Check for a grace period breach: ANPR systems often trigger charges for stays that exceeded the permitted time by minutes — the BPA/IPC Codes require a 10-minute observation period at ANPR sites before a charge can be issued.
✓If you were a customer of a nearby business, consider whether the ANPR cameras cover a shared access road and whether your vehicle was correctly attributed to the subject car park.

Sources

BPA Code of Practice 2023, Section 20 — ANPR enforcement requirements
IPC Code of Practice 2023, Section 12 — ANPR systems
Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Schedule 4, para 7(2)(b)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can ANPR cameras be wrong?: Yes. Plate misreads, clock synchronisation errors, and barrier loop faults are documented failure modes. Courts have accepted ANPR errors as grounds to set aside charges. The operator bears the burden of proving the charge is based on accurate ANPR data — you do not need to prove the camera was wrong; you can simply put the operator to proof.
Is an ANPR charge valid without a windscreen ticket?: ANPR-only sites do not issue windscreen tickets. The charge is sent by post to the registered keeper. This is lawful under POFA 2012 Schedule 4 para 7(2)(b), which sets out the NtK timescales for non-windscreen-ticket sites. The POFA procedure must still be followed precisely.
What is the 10-minute observation rule for ANPR sites?: The BPA and IPC Codes of Practice require that at ANPR-enforced sites, a minimum observation period is observed before a charge is issued — typically 10 minutes after the permitted time has expired. This gives motorists time to return to their vehicles. A charge issued the moment the permitted period expires (with zero or minimal observation time) may breach the Code of Practice and be a ground for appeal.

anpr-error
grace-period
Notice to Driver (NtD)

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