Christchurch City Council has begun trialling a number plate recognition system to check whether freedom campers on council land are certified self-contained. Vehicle plates are automatically recorded and matched against an online database of certified motorhomes and campervans. Non-certified vehicles breaching the Freedom Camping Bylaw face infringement fines of up to $800. The New Zealand Motor Caravan Association welcomed the trial and is introducing similar camera checks at its more than 65 private campsites, at a cost of over $1 million.
