Cloned number plates leave unwitting Barking motorist ‘furious’ after £65 fine
Pam receieved a PCN asking her to pay a £65 fine for a wong turn she claimed she never made - Credit: Archant
Stumping up the cash for a motoring offence is hard enough – but when the car in the picture isn’t even your own, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.
CCTV stills of the silver Ford Fiesta which Pam claims has identical number plates to her own maroon Ford C-Max car - Credit: Archant
Pam Dumbelton, 68, was stunned when she received a £65 penalty charge notice (PCN) from Camden Council for an illegal right-turn – particularly since she hasn’t driven around the borough in nearly two decades.
Pam with her maroon Ford C-Max, a different model and car to the vehicle shown above - Credit: Archant
When she opened up the envelope Pam said she “didn’t know what to do” because the car pictured was a completely different colour and model from her own – but had matching number plates.
The silver Ford approaches the turn clearly marked with "no right turn" signposts - Credit: Archant
“I looked at the pictures but my car wasn’t in them,” said Pam, of Alderman Avenue, Barking.
“It’s a car that has got my registration but it is a silver Ford Fiesta – my car is a maroon Ford C-Max which is totally different.
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“I’m furious because it is me that will have all the messing around if we get these sort of things coming through the door now – I imagine I will have some more.”
A video of the offence shows the silver Ford making a right turn at the end of Compayne Gardens, which is clearly marked with two “no right turn” signs, on April 3 at around 4pm.
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Pam has reported the number plate cloning to police and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), but said it was “frustrating” because she found it difficult to get through to the relevant department of each organisation to report the crime.
She appealed to Camden Council against the fine and is still waiting to hear back as to whether the authority will drop the PCN.
A police spokeswoman said: “Police do appreciate that the theft and cloning of number plates can be distressing and inconvenient for the victim, but unfortunately we can’t protest cases to other authorities on the victim’s behalf.
“Reporting the incident to the police will ensure the possible cloning has been recorded in case the suspect vehicle is used in the commission of a crime.”
