Dart Charge PCN - for a journey not made
Discussion
Has anyone any experience of receiving a Dart Charge Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) - for a journey they did not make - in a vehicle that could not possibly have been there at the time? Are there any known scams, or known software bugs with the Dart Crossing cameras?
To elaborate: just before Christmas I received a PCN for an alleged crossing made around 4pm on 8th December - for a vehicle I'd bought just 5 days earler on 3rd December. Under my ownership, the vehicle in question has NOT made a crossing in either direction at Dartford. The images on the PCN are of a vehicle of the same make and model with the same number plate as mine - but on the day in question I was at a client's in Winchester 94 miles away and the vehicle in question was on the drive at home (I was driving a different car that day, having stayed overnight in a hotel in Winchester around a works Christmas night out) and no, no-one else has access to it so could have been driving it at the time. It was also on the drive when I got home, some 20 minutes after the timestamp on the images on the PCN. Simply impossible as I live 72 miles from the crossing!
On 2nd January I made representation in writing explaining all of this however today I've had a letter back saying that this has been rejected - and of course the fine has now gone up to £38 (combined Penalty Charge and Road User Charge). Whilst I can prove I was in Winchester at the time of the offence (and can even provide parking receipts for the other car I was driving that day), the vehicle the offence relates to doesn't have a tracker on it, so I can't prove it was at home at the time of the offence or that no-one else was driving it. So I'm guilty am I, as I can't prove I am innocent??
I could of course just pay the fine to make this all go away, however it's a principle thing especially if I'm being judged to be a liar! I can only think of two explanations to this PCN: 1/ somehow the date & time are wrong on the images and the actual vehicle was driven over the crossing by the previous owner, or the motor trader I bought it from on a different date, or 2/ the vehicle number plate has been cloned - which is what I suggested when I made representation about the PCN.
Mindful that if the vehicle has been cloned, there are a lot worse offences it could be involved in than dodging a Dart Crossing Charge, so I have since put a private number plate on the vehicle to head that off!
Am now facing going through the appeals process via the Traffic Penatly Tribunal adjudicator but if they take the same stance as Dart then the fine will by then have risen to £105.
Surely I can't be the only person amongst the PH missive that this has happened to..?
To elaborate: just before Christmas I received a PCN for an alleged crossing made around 4pm on 8th December - for a vehicle I'd bought just 5 days earler on 3rd December. Under my ownership, the vehicle in question has NOT made a crossing in either direction at Dartford. The images on the PCN are of a vehicle of the same make and model with the same number plate as mine - but on the day in question I was at a client's in Winchester 94 miles away and the vehicle in question was on the drive at home (I was driving a different car that day, having stayed overnight in a hotel in Winchester around a works Christmas night out) and no, no-one else has access to it so could have been driving it at the time. It was also on the drive when I got home, some 20 minutes after the timestamp on the images on the PCN. Simply impossible as I live 72 miles from the crossing!
On 2nd January I made representation in writing explaining all of this however today I've had a letter back saying that this has been rejected - and of course the fine has now gone up to £38 (combined Penalty Charge and Road User Charge). Whilst I can prove I was in Winchester at the time of the offence (and can even provide parking receipts for the other car I was driving that day), the vehicle the offence relates to doesn't have a tracker on it, so I can't prove it was at home at the time of the offence or that no-one else was driving it. So I'm guilty am I, as I can't prove I am innocent??
I could of course just pay the fine to make this all go away, however it's a principle thing especially if I'm being judged to be a liar! I can only think of two explanations to this PCN: 1/ somehow the date & time are wrong on the images and the actual vehicle was driven over the crossing by the previous owner, or the motor trader I bought it from on a different date, or 2/ the vehicle number plate has been cloned - which is what I suggested when I made representation about the PCN.
Mindful that if the vehicle has been cloned, there are a lot worse offences it could be involved in than dodging a Dart Crossing Charge, so I have since put a private number plate on the vehicle to head that off!
Am now facing going through the appeals process via the Traffic Penatly Tribunal adjudicator but if they take the same stance as Dart then the fine will by then have risen to £105.
Surely I can't be the only person amongst the PH missive that this has happened to..?
snotrag said:
Your car has been cloned. Or more worryingly, given you've just bought it - youve bought a clone. Have checked your registration against the chassis number?
If a car is for sale online it's probably more likely to be cloned than one that's just used normally surely?What car is it?
snotrag said:
Your car has been cloned. Or more worryingly, given you've just bought it - youve bought a clone. Have checked your registration against the chassis number?
I bought it from a well known Land Rover specialist and did my due diligence before parting with a big old chunk of money. The VIN on the car matches the one on the V5 and I have the HPI report plus all the previous servicing history - so I'm not remotely concerned that mine is a clone.I used to have a Dart Tag before the Dart Charge. Now I have an account, but only cross about once a month. The times recorded seem spot on for me, but I don’t think they put free journeys (i.e. night time) on the account, which is irritating as I don’t then recall if I had crossed our went on the southern half of M25.
In truth your ‘cleanest’ solution is to pay up, but like you, I would be inclined to fight it. Do you have anyone who can sign an affidavit to confirm the car was not in use?
In truth your ‘cleanest’ solution is to pay up, but like you, I would be inclined to fight it. Do you have anyone who can sign an affidavit to confirm the car was not in use?
Pica-Pica said:
I In truth your ‘cleanest’ solution is to pay up, but like you, I would be inclined to fight it. Do you have anyone who can sign an affidavit to confirm the car was not in use?
mondeoman said:
Keep fighting, you’ll think of something.
Do you have any neighbours you can ask for a witness statement to say that they saw your car at home that day?
Yes absolutely! I missed that responding with an affidavit is an option at this stage, rather than go down the tribunal route. Thanks Pica-Pica and mondeoman Do you have any neighbours you can ask for a witness statement to say that they saw your car at home that day?
I have to have an affidavit notorized though right? Is that going to cost me more than the current fine at £35 though? Anyone know please?
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