Council refunds RM266,160 in parking fines
The Penang Island City Council is cancelling over 29,000 parking fines issued by its automated ANPR system. The move follows public complaints that the system unfairly penalized drivers who were only briefly stopped to drop off passengers.
Why it matters
This highlights the challenges of implementing automated enforcement technology and the importance of municipal accountability to citizens.
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has cancelled 29,240 compound notices issued for street parking infringements captured through its Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) enforcement system and will refund RM266,160 to those who had paid the compound.
Penang local government committee chairman Jason H’ng Mooi Lye said the state government acknowledged the weakness of the current ANPR parking enforcement, which also penalises motorists who only stop briefly to pick up or drop off passengers by deeming the vehicle to be “parked in a non-designated area”.
“The state government acknowledges that the system cannot determine whether there is a person inside a vehicle at the time.
“To avoid disputes, all compounds issued through the ANPR system for parking outside designated bays will be cancelled,” he said during a press conference at Komtar here yesterday.
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