August 12th 2024.
Many drivers have expressed frustration with the Dart Charge ANPR system, as they have been receiving fines for using the Dartford Crossing even though they have never actually crossed the bridge. Challenging these unfair fines can be a daunting and time-consuming process.
Recently, motorists all across the UK have been receiving penalty charges in the mail for supposedly using the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. One driver, who was hundreds of miles away and had never been to Dartford, was shocked to receive a fine through the Dart Charge Automatic Number Plate Recognition system. This has caused confusion and frustration among drivers, who are now left wondering if they will also be wrongly fined.
Anne Marie Kenyon, a deputy headteacher from Bury, Greater Manchester, was one of the drivers who received a fine in the post, not just once, but twice. She had never used the crossing and was able to successfully cancel the fines, but she is worried about it happening again. Her number plate starts with DV, while the vehicle captured by the cameras had DY and OV at the beginning of their number plates.
Another driver, Eleanor Vousden from Berkshire, also received a fine for using the crossing on Christmas Eve. However, she knew it was a mistake as the car in the notification picture was a silver Honda Jazz, which is very similar to her silver Honda CRG, except for the last letter on the number plate. She was relieved to have the fine cancelled but wonders how many people may have been wrongly fined and not bother to check or remember if they have used the crossing.
The company responsible for managing the road user charging, Conduent Public Sector UK Ltd, was awarded a contract worth £150 million by National Highways in 2021. They operate the equipment for vehicle identification, including the ANPR cameras at the Dartford Crossing. Mike Adams, a driver from Kent, received a fine even though the cameras were unable to read his number plate correctly. He believes that the Dart Charge system is profiting from these fines that should not apply.
A spokesperson from National Highways stated that in some cases, manual checks are required to ensure the accuracy of the crossing details, which can cause delays in the information appearing on the website. However, customers can still pay for these crossings at any time until midnight the following day. They also encourage drivers to pay on time to avoid any additional stress and offer different payment methods to suit everyone's needs. The spokesperson also acknowledged that in some instances, penalty charges are issued in error, and they are cancelled as soon as the customer informs them that they are not the registered keeper of the vehicle.
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