Number Plate Camera Enforcement in the Car-Free City Centre

Municipality of Rijswijk

The local authority uses ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) cameras to check whether vehicles are permitted to enter a specific area (the Low-Traffic City Centre). The camera reads the number plate; an algorithm checks whether access is permitted. If this is not the case, a photograph is sent to the enforcement system, where a BOA assesses whether a fine or a warning should be issued.

Last change on 2nd of July 2026, at 10:11 (CET) | Publication Standard 1.0

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

General information

Theme

Traffic

Begin date

2022-04

Contact information

[e-mail]

Responsible use

Goal and impact

Objective: digital enforcement of the low-traffic city centre. Monitoring is carried out using cameras capable of reading number plates. The aim of the algorithm is to enable efficient enforcement.

The algorithm only affects vehicles that are not permitted in these areas. Only the offending vehicle is captured on camera. Non-offenders are disregarded. The cameras, and therefore the algorithm, are deployed for the purpose of enforcing the low-traffic city centre for vehicles. The algorithm has a minimal impact on members of the public. The algorithm merely reads the number plate. Suspected offenders are manually checked by a BOA to determine whether an offence has been committed, during which the BOA also checks the number plate itself against the camera footage.

Considerations

The algorithm offers significant advantages as it is more efficient, faster and cheaper. Instead of staff having to constantly monitor the footage, a photograph is now taken only of vehicles that are not permitted in the area. Simply erecting traffic signs is not enough, and deploying enforcement officers to manually check vehicles is time-consuming and inefficient. Physical barriers using bollards also have disadvantages, such as high purchase and running costs and the potential for damage. Furthermore, the area must always remain accessible to emergency services. CCTV surveillance is therefore more efficient and effective than the alternatives.

Human intervention

The system generates a list of registered vehicles without an exemption. A special investigating officer (BOA) checks and assesses this list within 72 hours. If an offence is established, the BOA forwards the details to the Central Judicial Collection Agency.

Risk management

The number plate registration system complies with all applicable privacy laws and regulations.

No live video footage is used; only digital images (photographs) containing number plate information are used. Only offenders are temporarily added to a list (for a maximum of 72 hours). Information about non-offenders is not stored.

As the investigating authority, the local authority must retain the digital records for five years and ensure that the offender can request a copy of the offence photograph from the local authority.

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 is carrying out a DPIA to assess the impact of the solution.

Impact assessment

Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)

Operations

Data

Vehicle registration details (registration number, date, time and location; no specific name, address or contact details) of vehicles not permitted in the designated area, a database of exemption holders and any permitted entry times. The permitted entry times are the times during which special vehicles are / are not permitted to enter the city centre.

Links to data sources

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

Technical design

The camera enforcement system scans (subject to any window periods) all number plates of passing vehicles. The camera then uses an object recognition algorithm to identify and classify different types of vehicles in traffic (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, with 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.