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Drive-by warden can spot 1,500 offenders per hour

French firm says 85% of drivers pay in test while just 10% of Paris drivers pay for parking

A French car park company is testing a new drive-by parking attendant which will be able to spot a potential 1,500 parking fines an hour.

Indigo, formerly Vinci Park, is testing a fleet of vehicles fitted with LAPI number plate reader technology that can check thousands of cars as it drives past.

The robot traffic wardens are set to be used on the streets of Metz, Lorraine, from the start of next year and, later, in Paris.

The company says that tests in Madrid have seen 85% of drivers paying for parking when the system is used – while in Paris just 10% of drivers pay – and that it catches 95% of parking fee dodgers.

Le stationnement en voirie, l'expertise d'Indigo from Park Indigo on Vimeo.

Cars and scooters fitted with the LAPI readers are driven up and down the streets and each number plate on each side of the street is read as they pass – with the details being checked against the register of vehicles that have paid for parking and included their vehicle registration.

Parking wardens on foot are then alerted to the location of the vehicle and they will issue a ticket to be stuck on the vehicle windscreen.

The company aims to fine 10 times more parking fee dodgers than at present and says it will free up more parking spaces for people who pay.

Expertise voirie : dépénalisation du stationnement from Park Indigo on Vimeo.

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