Heidelberg starts pilot project: Smart scanning cars against parking offenders!

Heidelberg starts pilot project: Smart scanning cars against parking offenders!

An exciting pilot project has begun in Heidelberg that could revolutionize the digital control of parking offenders. On September 18, 2025, the first scanning cars launched in Baden-Württemberg, the first federal state to use this technology. The vehicles are equipped with cameras and sensors that make it possible to precisely detect parked cars and compare the license plates with a dedicated database. This shows the Rhine Palatinate and underlines the city's commitment to modern traffic monitoring.

But what exactly is behind this new technology? The scanning cars can check several forms of parking permits that are stored digitally. This happens without any fines being imposed during the test operation. The responsible municipal law enforcement services are still required, but the scanning cars could make their work easier by being able to check up to 1,000 vehicles per hour, while foot patrols only reach around 50. Another advantage of the technology: The scanners can also identify vehicles that are parked in prohibited areas, such as zebra crossings or fire department entrances. This will be in MDR described.

Technology and areas of application

The scanning vehicles are not only on the road in Heidelberg's old town and Bahnstadt, but will also be used in other cities such as Mannheim and Freiburg. These cities are already working on their own pilot projects. In Mannheim, for example, a test phase is planned for the fourth quarter of 2025. Freiburg, on the other hand, will introduce a scanning car in the first half of 2026. As Winfried Hermann, the transport minister of Baden-Württemberg, said, the technology has the potential to increase road safety and protect the climate.

The way the scanning cars work is based on the digital capture of data. This includes images of the vehicle, the license plate as well as the location and time of the inspection. Data protection is also important: data from correctly parked cars is deleted immediately, while information about incorrectly parked vehicles is only stored for the duration of the fine procedure. Images of logged out people are pixelated to protect privacy. It is crucial that data protection aspects are taken into account as part of the new regulations BR turns out.

First experiences and outlook

The first experiences with this technology were already gained in Hohenheim, where 1,237 parking spaces were checked three times in just 75 minutes. 40 possible violations were identified. This positive feedback gives hope that the scanning cars will provide valuable support in the fight against incorrectly parked vehicles. Those responsible in the region certainly have a good hand in further evaluating this innovative technology.

Finally, it is to be hoped that the findings from the pilot projects in Heidelberg, Mannheim and Freiburg not only make the roads safer, but also serve as a model for other federal states. Given the experiences from abroad, such as in the Netherlands and France, where the costs of parking control have been significantly reduced, Germany could make good progress with digital traffic monitoring.