Unauthorized vehicles found parked on train tracks at Heidelberg's station, causing potential disruptions in train schedules due to the implemented scanning system.
Germany Introduces Scan Cars for Parking Enforcement
In a bid to enhance urban safety and streamline parking management, the state of Baden-Württemberg has become the first in Germany to allow the use of scan cars for parking enforcement. This innovative technology is already in use in France and the Netherlands.
The scan cars, equipped with cameras on their roof, are designed to read license plates and determine if a driver has paid for parking or possesses a resident parking permit. They can check up to 1,000 vehicles per hour, a significant increase from the 50 vehicles checked by a human in the same time frame.
The city of Heidelberg was the first in Germany to use scan cars for parking surveillance, starting a pilot project on September 18, 20225. The test run on the University of Hohenheim parking lot was successful, with a scan car checking more than 1,200 parking spots three times in 75 minutes. The data collected during this test run will be used to analyze the technology and processes.
In Mannheim, a test phase with scan cars is planned to begin as early as the fourth quarter of 2025, starting in the Neckarstadt district. The focus will be on wrongly parked cars in areas where parking is generally prohibited. The city of Freiburg plans to start using scan cars in the first half of 2026.
Data privacy is a priority in the use of scan cars. License plate numbers will be deleted again after checks, and data from correctly parked cars will be immediately deleted. Data from incorrectly parked cars will be removed from the system once the fine procedure has been completed.
Pedestrians can directly and automatically blur the system, ensuring privacy concerns are addressed. The system only works if parking permissions are digitally recorded, ensuring a smooth and efficient process.
The use of scan cars is hoped to increase safety, as one in five accidents in urban areas is related to stationary traffic. Scan cars are intended to support, not replace, the work of municipal employees.
A trial is also planned in Waldshut-Tiengen, and the city of Aachen is considering the use of scan cars as well. As the technology continues to be rolled out, it promises to revolutionize parking enforcement and contribute to safer urban environments.
