Got spotted by cameras in London in my van, which apparently was non-compliant with the Low Emission Zone (which I had never heard of).
First I knew about it was 2 weeks later when I got two PCN’s for £250 through the door. I rang them up, filled out a representation against the PCN’s (took 5 minutes online) and they let me off, despite the fact they were well within their rights to uphold the PCN’s. My ignorance of the LEZ was not much of an excuse, but the humans at the end of the machines used their discretion and let me off with a warning.
I now know not to drive my van in London and will not repeat the mistake, so the cameras have fulfilled their purpose.
The people that moan about getting caught out are often the ones that don’t learn from it.