School Streets — wrong number plate captured (ANPR misread)
ANPR systems misread plates ~1-3% of the time. Common confusions: O/0, I/1, B/8, S/5. Causes: dirty plate, shadow/glare, oversized/non-standard plates. If the plate captured is not your vehicle's plate or your vehicle was elsewhere, the PCN is wrongly issued.
Legal basis
Civil Enforcement of Road Traffic Contraventions (Approved Devices) Regulations — devices must be type-approved; TMA 2004 s.78; Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 s.20; SI 2022/63
How to identify this in your case
Compare PCN photo plate character-by-character to your plate. Cross-reference dashcam, mobile location, toll receipts to prove vehicle was elsewhere.
Sample appeal wording
Dear Sir/Madam, Re: PCN [NUMBER] — [DATE/TIME] I challenge this PCN. The vehicle photographed is not my vehicle. My vehicle: [REG], [MAKE/MODEL/COLOUR]. PCN photograph: [DESCRIBE — e.g. 'Plate appears to read [X] but mine is [Y]; vehicle make/colour does not match']. The ANPR system has misread the plate. Likely confusion: [O/0, I/1, B/8]. Further, I have evidence my vehicle was at [LOCATION] at [TIME]: - [Dashcam footage attached] - [Mobile phone location data attached] - [Toll/payment receipt attached] Under s.78 TMA 2004, a PCN may only be issued where the named vehicle has committed the contravention. The Council bears the burden of proof. Please cancel the PCN. Yours faithfully, [NAME]
Replace [PARKING DATE], [NtK DATE] etc. with your own dates before sending.
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 submits it to the council on your behalf. Only pay if you win.
Scan my ticket