Protest Amsterdam parking meters: privacy group

The foundation Privacy First is calling on citizens to no longer enter their license plate numbers in the parking meters in Amsterdam. The massive protest should ensure that the administrative costs and are too high for Cition and that the controversial registration parking is abolished, De Telegraaf reports. Everyone parking in Amsterdam is required by Cition to enter his or her license plate number in the parking meter. This was a cost cutting measure that made millions because Cition could work more efficiently. Privacy first expects that the enforcement costs for Cition will skyrocket once citizens stop entering the correct license plate numbers and oppose wrongly issued fines. The foundation put a model complaint on their website today which parkers can use to object to fines. A judge has ruled that showing a proof of payment of the parking meter is enough and that entering a registration number is not required, De Telegraaf reports. Once the the registration parking is unprofitable, Privacy First hopes that Cition will abolish it. The judge did not touch on the question of whether registration parking is a infringement on the privacy of the parker, which is why both Privacy First and the municipality are considering appealing the earlier verdict, according to De Telegraaf. "You have the right to anonymity in public space, and that includes the right to park anonymously according to us" the foundation says. "If you have entered a registration number, finding out who and where you are can happen at the single press of a button. We find it a frightening idea that the government can check these things."