Number plate recognition in car parks

[dornadair]

I wonder if the forum can help me. Earlier today I went to the cinema with my daughter and parked in a local high rise carpark in my '67 Moggie. As standard I have the black number plates on the car.
The car park is one where they take a photo of your car as you go in and on leaving you enter your number plate and it tells you how much you. Despite my best efforts the machine kept telling me that I had only just entered with my car and that I owed nothing even though I had been there for over 3 hours.
I didn't have a mobile to call anyone and the car park office was locked up.
Do the number recognition systems still have a problem with our old licence plates?

I did try to pay but couldn't.

I would be interested in your thoughts.

Thanks

Mark

[horologiumwatches]

My local Sainsbury has a numerplate recognition system, it flashes your number up on a screen as you drive in and the same when you drive out to time your stay. In the Moggie the screen just stays blank.

[bmcecosse]

If someone tells me I owe nothing - that suits me just fine......

[dornadair]

If someone tells me I owe nothing - that suits me just fine......

Aye, I figure that's the case, I just wanted clarification and not because if it works I may use this as a regular way to park for free

[irmscher]

You owe nothing Roy

[les]

I'd say--result!

[JOWETTJAVELIN]

Agree. You park up for 3 hours and then are told you owe nothing - don't question it!!!

[speedbox24]

MMM.... airport car parks have the same system and they are VERY expensive.....! Don't tell everyone.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

I did hear from a traffic cop that the readers couldnt cope with black plate.

[lambrettalad]

so I'm ok for 90mph on the motorway?

[dornadair]

so I'm ok for 90mph on the motorway?

I'm lucky that my Moggie can get to 55mph!!

[irmscher]

The camera can register a dark plate

[ampwhu]

I sped around the north circular in London at 50mph and the camera flashed. this was about 2 years ago. I never received anything regarding this.

I have a policeman who lives 5 mins from me and I asked him if there camera's in the traffic cars pick up the pressed aluminium number plates. he said they don't but they are in the process of sorting this. (apparently been on going for a couple of years??).

so i'd suggest you not chance it.

[irmscher]

A lot of the cameras don't have film and they change the rota of installing it .

[bmcecosse]

Nearly all digital now - sadly - with infinite capacity to hold pictures.....

[ferret76]

Sort of related. Recently reported in Australia, possibly true:

Speed Camera Revenge

Two weeks ago a speed camera van in Canberra was approached by 4 youths. Whilst the camera operator was talking to three boys about the van's equipment and how it works, the fourth boy proceeded to undo the van's front number plate.

They then said good-bye to the operator, Went home and fixed the number plate to their car and proceeded to drive considerably over the speed limit 17 times through the speed camera radar.

Needless to say, there was considerable embarrassment by Urban services when the computer posted their own speeding fines to the department.

[badobsession]

when at a show last year 2 BMW traffic cars where attending (letting the kids put the lights on and the 2 tones etc etc )
wandered over and asked the very nice officer if there high tech number plate recognition would pick up black and silver plates
he said officially it will pick up every plate BUT when they tried it on my pickup plate it never showed up
BUT it takes a picture as well and as my truck is very distinctive i think i would have found it hard to say it was not me
and got booked for what ever offence i.e. speeding etc ...
and a the officer said it is not always the plate that gets you arrested ..
so may be less sophisticated systems such as the car park camera you can fool with the black plates....

[Plin]

ferret that is a great story!

[whyperion]

Various ANPR camera are avalible , more expensive models will pick up all types on approved number plate designs , according to the suppliers, some cheaper / basic models ( used in Some commercial , etc , car parks ) only detect the black on white/ black on yellow styles. I wish I had bought a MO Oxford from a scrapyard some years ago , the rear plate was square and from memory it was U7302 with the U on top line and the four numbers below , which takes additional programming to auto detect.

As an aside , is it legal to have black lettering on one plate and silver on black for another ? ( which could give you large bill if they check different plates entering and leaving car parks).