How classic car drivers can dodge parking snoopers

THEY are a perfect example of how the march of technology has helped to change modern life.

But the high-tech camera systems which are increasingly used to monitor car parks at supermarkets, motorway service stations and retail parks have provided an unexpected benefit to drivers of classic cars – free parking.

the automatic number plate recognition cameras are used to police zones with limited time periods for free parking, as well as on major roads to track suspect vehicles or detect motoring offences. But the technolbeen ogy is often unable to recognise vintage number plates, which are typically non-reflective.

An overhaul of licence plate laws in 2015 allowed vehicles manufactured before 1975 to display older- style plates. Silver and black plates can be legally placed on cars registered under the ‘historic vehicles’ taxation class, but they can confuse the surveillance systems set up to deal with modern yellow and white designs.

the Federation of British historic Vehicle Clubs said about 20 of its members recently admitted that their cars were routinely missed by the cameras.

‘In the cases of supermarkets you wouldn’t be challenged at all because the system simply wouldn’t recognise you had ever there,’ a spokesman told the Sunday telegraph.

David Simister, editor of Classic Car Weekly magazine, said his vintage MGB Gt left his local car park confused.

he said: ‘As far as I was concerned, I could park there at 8am, go shopping all day, leave it there for a week if I wanted and nobody would be any the wiser.’

however, while some classic car drivers have been enjoying unlimited free parking, others have been less lucky.

they have reported getting stuck in car parks which use the cameras but still have barriers – because they could not buy a ticket needed to get out.