Parking enforcement using scan vehicles

Municipality of Delft

The local authority checks vehicles’ parking permits using mobile scanning vehicles.  The scanning vehicle drives through the regulated area (the city centre and the surrounding area) and continuously takes photographs of the number plates of vehicles parked in parking bays; it then checks whether a valid parking permit is present. Following a physical inspection by parking enforcement officers, a decision is made as to whether a fine will be issued.

Last change on 25th of June 2026, at 12:29 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

• Publication category: Impactful algorithms
• Impact assessment: DPIA, AIIA
• Status: In use

General information

Theme

Traffic

Begin date

2020-01

Contact information

[e-mail]

Responsible use

Goal and impact

Identifying vehicles without a valid parking permit and imposing a penalty charge on the vehicle’s owner.

The cameras, and therefore the algorithm, are used to enforce regulations in designated vehicle zones. The algorithm has a minimal impact on members of the public. The algorithm merely reads the number plate. The number plate images of alleged offenders are manually checked by an authorised enforcement officer to determine whether an offence has actually been committed. If this is not the case, the system is corrected and the images are deleted within 72 hours.

Considerations

Car parking and traffic take up a great deal of the limited space available, and this affects the quality of life in the city.

The deployment of a scanning vehicle in the municipality of Delft is essential for more efficient and effective parking enforcement. This is because the scanning vehicle automatically scans number plates and checks for paid parking, thereby increasing the likelihood of parking fines for those who have not paid and improving compliance with parking regulations. In this way, parking spaces remain available for visitors and permit holders.

Enforcement using a scanning vehicle is faster, meaning that available enforcement capacity can be deployed more effectively and that parking spaces are allocated fairly.

In the event of a potential offence, a member of staff intervenes to carry out an additional check.

Human intervention

In the event of a potential offence, a human operator intervenes to carry out an additional check.

If it transpires that there is no valid parking authorisation, or if the system believes it has misread the number plate, the images are sent to the enforcement officer (via their personal account). This person assesses the images. If it transpires that:

a. a valid parking authorisation does exist after all, this is updated in the system and the photo is automatically deleted within 72 hours;

b. there is indeed no valid parking authorisation, this is confirmed in the system.

If a supplementary assessment* is issued, the images are stored in Brickyard, where the offences are retained.

* (additional parking tax assessment (nha)).

Risk management

There is no live video footage; the system only uses digital images (photographs) containing number plate information. Only potential offenders are temporarily placed on a list. This list is checked manually by an enforcement officer or BOA within 72 hours. Information about non-offenders is not stored.

In the event of a possible offence, a human intervention takes place to carry out an additional check.

Legal basis

Road Traffic Act 1994

Links to legal bases

Road Traffic Act 1994: https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0006622

Elaboration on impact assessments

The local authority has carried out a DPIA and an AIA to assess the impact of the solution.

Impact assessment

• Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)
• AI Impact Assessment (AIIA)

Operations

Data

Vehicle registration number.

Links to data sources

• RDW: https://www.rdw.nl/
• NPR: https://www.nationaalparkeerregister.nl/

Technical design

The camera enforcement system scans (barring any designated time slots) all number plates of parked vehicles. The camera then uses an object recognition algorithm, which is employed to recognise and classify different types of vehicles on the road (vehicle type and other objects). The vehicle’s classification is determined via a link to the RDW. The number plate is compared, via a link to the NPR, against a database of registered number plates belonging to exemption holders. Vehicles without an exemption are placed on a list which is forwarded to a special investigating officer (BOA).

In addition, a separate algorithm ensures that the photograph of the offence is blurred, with the exception of the vehicle and its registration number.

External provider

Brickyard B.V.