Camera misread your number plate on LEZ notice

When a Low Emission Zone penalty notice is issued, the council must provide the photo from the approved camera if you ask for it. Automatic number-plate recognition cameras regularly confuse similar-looking characters — for example 'O' and '0', 'B' and '8', 'E' and 'F', or '5' and 'S'. Although a human is supposed to check the reading, mistakes still happen, especially when large numbers of images are processed. If the plate shown in the photo clearly does not match the registration on your penalty notice, the notice may not be valid.

Legal basis

SSI 2021/177 reg 6(5)(n); reg 8(4)(a); Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 s.7

How to identify this in your case

Still image plate unclear, partially obscured, or differs from PCN registration; or your plate is personalised/regional design that camera could mis-read.

Sample appeal wording

Before you send this

Deadline. A late submission can be turned down without your argument being read. Check your notice for the deadline and how it is counted.
Paying may end it. Paying can count as accepting the notice and can close a challenge already under way. Part-paying or acknowledging an old debt can also revive a time limit that had expired.
The amount can change. Check what happens to the sum if you challenge — it may be held, re-offered lower, or keep rising, and fees or enforcement can continue meanwhile.
Use the official route. Use the method, recipient and form your notice specifies, with any reference, evidence and signature it asks for. Sent elsewhere, it may not count.
Only say what is true. Do not copy any statement of fact unless it is true for you, and check the legal point still applies. Delete what does not fit. It may be treated as your statement.
Careful what you volunteer. Avoid unnecessary admissions — naming the driver or accepting responsibility can remove arguments. But answer anything you are legally required to answer, and do include the evidence your ground needs.
Keep the record. Keep what you sent, the attachments, any receipt, and the reply. Note the next deadline.

Sample wording to adapt and send yourself — it may not fit your notice or the stage you are at. Replace the bracketed prompts with your own details; leave any case citation as it is.

Dear [COUNCIL], Re: PCN [PCN_NUMBER] Representation under reg 8(1); ground reg 8(4)(a). I requested the approved-device record under reg 6(5)(n). Still image shows registration [WHAT_IMAGE_SHOWS], differing from my registration [VRN]. Camera appears to have mis-read [CHARACTER]. Evidence: enlarged crop of still image; photograph of my actual plate showing font/spacing. Contravention did not occur as regards my vehicle. Please cancel. Yours faithfully, [NAME]

Beat It writes this argument automatically

Scan your PCN — our AI checks if this ground applies to your specific ticket, drafts a properly-cited appeal letter, and sends it for you where the council takes email — guiding you through their own online form where they use one, so you press submit. The win fee is only charged if you win.

Camera misread your number plate on LEZ notice

Legal basis

How to identify this in your case

Sample appeal wording

Beat It writes this argument automatically

Sources

Related appeal grounds

Next steps