In the consumer program "WinWin" on Radio2, Xavier Taveirne shed light on a significant problem in Belgian parking policy, namely the unjustified issuance of parking fines by scanning cars in blue zones.
The use of scanning vehicles to enforce parking rules in Belgian cities and municipalities has led to an increasing number of unjustified parking fines, especially in blue zones. This phenomenon, where motorists are fined despite complying with parking regulations, raises questions about the effectiveness and accuracy of these technological tools.
In blue zones it is mandatory to use a parking disc and you can park in the same spot for a maximum of two hours. After this period the vehicle must be moved. Despite following these rules, several citizens, including Christine from Holsbeek, report that they are being unfairly fined after repeatedly moving their car within the same blue zone. The problem seems to mainly arise when vehicles are moved to a nearby parking lot, making it difficult for scanning vehicles to detect this movement.
Scanning vehicles, equipped with multiple cameras for reading license plates and taking environmental photos, are increasingly used by local authorities to enforce parking rules. However, the technology behind these vehicles is not without its flaws. According to Sara Jasmes, spokesperson for parking.brussels, scan vehicles may be unable to correctly determine whether a vehicle has moved within the allowed time, resulting in unjustified fines.
The "WinWin" report shows that motorists who respect the parking rules in blue zones are still wrongly fined. According to current regulations, drivers may park in a blue zone for a maximum of two hours, unless otherwise indicated, using a valid parking disc. After this period they must move their vehicle. However, practice shows that even after correctly moving the vehicle, citizens sometimes still receive a parking fine.
The program shared the experience of Christine from Holsbeek, who, despite carefully following the rules and moving her car within a blue zone in Jette, was wrongly charged a parking fee several times.
Although a visual check is carried out on every fee issued by scanning vehicles, both local parking companies and the Belgian Parking Federation acknowledge that the system is not flawless. Peter Lamens of Optimal Parking Control (OPC) emphasizes that their system is able to detect the movement of vehicles within an accuracy of one to two meters, which in most cases prevents unjustified fines.
The Belgian Parking Federation and parking.brussels admit that there is currently no simple solution to tackle this problem, given the technical and human limitations. Roland Cracco, chairman of the Belgian Parking Federation, points out that respecting the law is essential, but also recognizes that unjustified fines must be avoided.
This situation underlines the need for an overhaul of parking enforcement systems to improve accuracy and reduce unjustified fines. Citizens who are wrongly fined are encouraged to contact the relevant parking companies to dispute their fines.
