Latest news with #vehicleinspection
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- RNZ News
Billboard camera footage used by transport agency to spot cars and trucks
NZTA Waka Kotahi has used privately-owned automated number plate recognition cameras to identity number plates. File photo. Photo: 123RF Footage from cameras in billboards at city intersections have been secretly used by the NZ Transport Agency for the first time to spot cars and trucks. NZTA Waka Kotahi's trial started in February, and is designed to combat fraud by illegal garages issuing warrants of fitness to cars, or passing trucks. Two sources close to the vehicle inspection industry say the move is surprising and questioned why the agency would do it, especially with using third-party technology systems. Police already tap into privately-owned automated number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to identity number plates hundreds of times a day. But this is the first known use of that power by another state agency. "The ANPR donor cameras in the trial are not being used 'to spy on mechanics issuing warrants', nor would they be capable of being used for that purpose," NZTA told RNZ. "These cameras are typically located in billboards at urban intersections. "The trial is simply looking at the potential for using images gathered by these cameras to be used as proof of the location of a particular vehicle at a point in time." An inspector who claimed they had checked a car in Auckland at a certain time could be exposed if the car was spotted at a Christchurch intersection at that time, it said. It "could be of benefit in supporting investigations into specific cases where fraudulent or illegal activity is suspected". A well-connected industry source told RNZ: "Yeah, that has been a bit secret." NZTA might not have wanted to tip people off, the source said. "For the purpose the agency is stating, I don't have much issue with that, but the way they have gone about it is what alarms me. Especially because it's third-party [cameras and ANPR system]. "What else might they use them for?" NZTA Waka Kotahi said it was not using the images in any actual fraud investigations, but only as a test for potential future use. The test is separate from how the agency is taking over many speed and red-light-runner cameras from police, and replacing some with higher-tech models, which it will own. A second source active in the industry was appalled by the move. "Oh my god," they said. "It is part of your right to know the audit process you go through. You can't sabotage your process because of a trial." Months of inquiries by RNZ in 2018 showed up mass deficiencies in NZTA's oversight of how truck certificates of fitness were being issued. The systems were reviewed and changed. There have been further reports of inspectors anonymously recounting examples of how they feel they have been subject to unfair targeting by the agency. "You have got layers and layers of issues here," said the second source. "What's the limit [of surveillance]?" They questioned why was the camera sting even needed when fraud would "show up in paperwork. There will be tons of other evidence that can be used against people". Many supermarkets, petrol stations, other businesses and councils have a total of thousands of cameras that link into ANPR software systems run by two Auckland companies - Auror and SaferCities. The new trial uses SaferCities vGrid system , NZTA said. Its system covered electronic billboard operators such as LUMO, which had built-in cameras with ANPR software, and CCTV operators including councils, individual businesses and car park operators, the agency said. Police accessed the vGrid system more than 400,000 times last year. "NZTA only has access to still images from ANPR donor cameras whose owners have specifically agreed to our usage," Waka Kotahi told RNZ in the OIA response. "Currently, this only includes LUMO and more recently, Hamilton City Council." RNZ approached LUMO for comment. As of 2022, the country had at least 1400 digital billboards and screen-posters, many of them with smart technology and ANPR cameras . The police tapped the ANPR systems 700,000 times last year. In October, two district court judges dismissed legal challenges to the police using them so much without a warrant, though it is expected there will be at least one appeal against that finding. The fraud camera trial comes at the same time Waka Kotahi is reviewing the WOF-COF system to reduce how often collectors of old vehicles, and motorhome users, have to get a warrant. The agency has been increasing a lot of the fees it charges motorists since 2023. Another batch of rises is due next January that are expected to push up total fees collected by $10m to $264m . Camera footage could be used where it was suspected that WoFs or CoFs had been issued to vehicles which had not been inspected at the time or place recorded by a vehicle inspector, the transport agency said. It gave a hypothetical scenario to RNZ: "If NZTA was investigating a vehicle inspector suspected of fraud, and if the inspector had issued a WoF to a vehicle which was recorded as having been inspected at a WoF garage in Auckland at 2pm on 1 July, 2025, and we were able to access a still image from a donor camera of the same vehicle driving past a billboard located in Christchurch at 3:30pm on 1 July, 2025, this could potentially be used as evidence to prove that the WoF had been issued fraudulently, because the vehicle was not in Auckland at the time of the recorded inspection." This would not be a part of regular compliance monitoring, it said. Regular compliance monitoring included scheduled reviews where compliance officers visited inspection sites, as well as 'mystery shopper' activity. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Free Malaysia Today
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Free Malaysia Today
No such thing as ‘Puspakom standard' for window tint, says CEO
Puspakom CEO Mahmood Razak Bahman said some vehicles already come with factory-fitted tinted glass, which affects visibility tests even before any film is applied. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Puspakom has warned tint film companies and vehicle runners against misleading the public about the company's role in vehicle inspections, particularly when it comes to window tint compliance. This comes after warranty cards from a well-known tint film brand surfaced, claiming that their products were 'JPJ-compliant' but 'not Puspakom-compliant'. Puspakom CEO Mahmood Razak Bahman said such claims were 'misleading and baseless'. He said the vehicle inspection agency does not set its own tint regulations. 'There is no such thing as a 'Puspakom standard' for window tint. A warranty card claiming the tint is 'JPJ-compliant' but 'not Puspakom-compliant'. (Puspakom pic) 'We follow the specifications set by the road transport department (JPJ) and apply them consistently during inspections,' he said in a statement. Mahmood said Puspakom condemned the use of its name to justify failed inspections or to suggest the existence of separate standards. He said failed inspections were usually the result of the combined visible light transmission of the car's glass and the tint film not meeting JPJ's requirements. He said some vehicles already come with factory-fitted tinted glass, which affects VLT levels even before any film is applied. Although a tint film may be JPJ-compliant on clear glass, it may still fail tests when combined with factory-tinted windows. Mahmood said the VLT levels set by JPJ are 70% for the front windscreen, 50% for the front side windows, and no restrictions for the rear windows or windscreen. He urged the public to be wary of runners who use false information to apply pressure on car owners to remove window tint or pay extra to 'fix' supposed issues.
Daily Mail
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Urgent rental warning as car giant exposed using James Bond tech to sting customer $440
Before returning his rented Volkswagen to Hertz, a driver steered his car through a high-tech scanner system. Arched LED lights and AI-enabled cameras scanned the vehicle's fenders and panels for scratches, wheels for scuffs, tires for tread wear, windows for cracks, and undercarriage for damage. According to Hertz, the system is designed to speed up inspections and reduce disputes. But minutes after pulling the VW through the automated scanner, the driver says he received a $440 bill — for a one-inch scrape on a wheel. The charge came after Hertz began rolling out the technology as part of its partnership with UVeye, an AI startup that builds automated vehicle inspection systems. The renter, identified only as Patrick, said the total included $250 for the repair, $125 for processing, and a $65 administrative fee, according to The Drive. He isn't alone. Another renter on Reddit claimed they were billed $195 for a minor 'ding' after returning a Toyota Corolla to a Hertz location equipped with the same AI system. In April, Hertz representatives told that the newly-implemented machines would not be used to bill customers for minor cosmetic issues. Instead, they said the system was intended to prioritize safety and maintenance — not penalties. A representative for Hertz verified Patrick's story and said the company's policy has not changed. They're standing by the $440 charge. Now, the company confirms it uses a 1-inch standard for dents — roughly the size of a golf ball — when determining whether to issue a damage charge. 'Over 97 percent of cars scanned with this technology have not detected any billable damage, proving a vast majority of rentals are incident-free,' a spokesperson for the company said. 'Vehicle damage has long been a common pain point across the car rental industry for customers and companies alike. 'At Hertz, we're using this technology to address this friction head-on and our goal is to always improve the customer experience while ensuring customers are not charged for damages they did not cause and by bringing greater transparency, precision, and speed to the process when they do.' Independent analysts told that Hertz's AI rollout reflects a growing tension between company's tech solutions and a customer's service expectations. 'A line is crossed when AI applications become overly aggressive and prioritize efficiency over customer fairness and satisfaction,' David Linthicum, an AI analyst, said. Independent analysts are concerned that the advancing use of AI could frustrate customers 'Customers value fairness and human interaction.' Still, Hertz believes the new systems will make damage fees more transparent. Traditionally, car rental companies relied on employees to inspect vehicles, a process that had its limitations — especially when it came to detecting undercarriage damage or worn tires. UVeye says its scanners apply a consistent, fleet-wide standard to inspections, improving accuracy and fairness. 'Hertz is setting a new standard for vehicle maintenance and fleet management in the rental industry,' Amir Hever, the CEO and Co-Founder of UVeye, said. 'Our AI-driven inspection systems complement manual checks with consistent, data-backed assessments completed in seconds.' But while the technology may be more consistent, some drivers who've been hit with fees say they're finished with Hertz altogether. 'I will no longer be using Hertz,' the Corolla renter said on Reddit. 'Reached out to customer service, and they said they stand by the AI.' Hertz is the second largest rental vehicle fleet in the US Its the latest major change from Hertz that has ruffled some customer feathers. In 2022, the rental company purchased thousands of Tesla and Polestar EVs as it attempted to entice trendy customers. But vacationers, who didn't want to navigate America's frustrating public charging infrastructure, infrequently rented the EVs. Hertz started selling the cars at a loss. In the positive direction, the company also started to gain a lot of attention on Wall Street after billionaire investor Bill Ackman said he started purchasing stock.
Motor Trend
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
Hertz Is Using AI to Scan Your Rental Car for Damage—and Fast-Tracking Repair Estimates
The Hertz rental car company, along with its Dollar and Thrifty affiliates, are rolling out AI-powered vehicle inspection scanners that scan your rental car as it exits or enters the rental lot for damage. The motivation here, clearly, is to improve rental fleet maintenance and introduce some objective data to a damage-reporting process that, traditionally, has been pretty subjective. But barely two months into the scanners' initial deployment at real-world Hertz facilities, there's already a problem. The skinny of it is a Hertz customer, Patrick, rented a Volkswagen from Hertz out of the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, which is actually the first location to implement the scanners, reported The Drive . Patrick later returned the car, albeit with a one-inch scuff on the driver's side rear wheel. Apparently, "minutes" after putting the vehicle through the scanner, he said received a damage charge for the curb rash: $250 to repair it, $125 for "processing," and an additional $65 for an "administrative fee." In total, the charge was for $440. A Jeep going through a Hertz UVeye inspection scanner. It's not clear what typical Hertz repair costs are, or how quickly human-scanned damage turns into a repair estimate and charge for a customer, but the company defines the processing and administrative fees as "the cost to detect and estimate the damage that occurred during your rental" and "cover[ing] a portion of the costs [Hertz incurs] as a result of processing your claim," respectively, according to The Drive . We also figure that a human eyeing a rental for damage, inputting any such damage into a company system, and that system generating a repair charge estimate would surely take longer than a process seemingly automated end-to-end and initiated immediately upon the rental car's return. To put things into perspective, a professional curb-rash repair job typically costs between $100 to $250 per wheel. Heck, an entirely new wheel (the rented VW appears to be a late-model Jetta, based on the pictured wheel at The Drive ) might even be price-competitive with the repair estimate given to Patrick, given its list price is a little over $500. Patrick claimed if he agreed to the terms and paid within two days, Hertz would give him a $52 discount. Or he could get a $32.50 discount if he paid within a week. Patrick told the outlet he wanted to speak to someone and ask about the charge. The Hertz chatbot system, however, isn't currently set up to bring in live agents, only to flag a claim for later review. Patrick followed company prompts and sent an email, though a response can take up to 10 days to appear. The discount is only good for seven days, remember. As of Monday, June 23, Patrick has not paid the charge, telling The Drive : "Saving $30 to accept responsibility is not worth it." Customers can get near-instant damage reports straight to their phones. Following this, MotorTrend has reached out to company reps to ask what Hertz is doing to make live agents more accessible to customers in the face of more automation in the rental process. We also asked if rental prices and rental repair costs were higher for customers who rent from locations that employ the scanners, as compared to those who rent from locations without them. We'll update this story when we get a response. On the other hand, say you pick up your rental car at the start of your trip and you forget to take photos or overlook an existing bit of damage. The scanners could ensure you aren't falsely charged for dings that were already there. You're free to depart the rental lot without having to worry; ditto when returning the car—you can walk off without stress that you missed something when initially picking up the car, and (if true) confident you didn't add any patina to the car during your rental. Hertz announced its use of the AI scanners back in April. It's partnered with Israeli ex-defense and current AI vehicle inspection system company, UVeye. The scanners can measure treadwear and provide a 360-view of a car's undercarriage, body, and glass. Rather than have a human come out and do a visual inspection, the scanner can do it consistently and more frequently. UVeye claims its system increases damage detection accuracy by five times. Hertz plans to implement 100 UVeye scanners at its approximately 1,600 United States airport locations by the end of 2025. It touts "transparency" as one of the main advantages its customers can expect from the tech, though it remains to be seen how transparent things remain when customers invariably require a live human to speak with to dispute the findings. To note, this is the same company that has left a rental desk unmanned for six hours, attempted to charge a customer $10,000 despite an unlimited mileage policy, attempted to charge a Tesla customer for gas, and settled for $168 million after falsely accusing hundreds of customers of stealing its cars—some of which led to innocent people getting arrested, charged with felonies, and jailed. Hertz filed for bankruptcy in 2020 but left bankruptcy after just a year when travel rebounded in full force. It was able to offload more than $5 billion in debt and invest in buying cars for its fleets and modernizing technology.
CTV News
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Eight vehicles pulled off the road, seven charges laid in Stratford Police safety initiative
An exposed wire could be seen poking out of a tire during a safety blitz. (Courtesy: Stratford Police Service) The Stratford Police Service said eight vehicles were pulled off the road during their latest safety initiative. Police teamed up with Transportation Enforcement Officers from the Ministry of Transportation for the latest blitz on Wednesday. All told, 21 vehicles were stopped and 18 of those vehicles underwent a commercial vehicle inspection. Police said eight of the vehicles that were inspected were placed out of service and pulled off the road. Seven charges were laid, including four charges against owner/operators with expired registrations. One charge was issued for driving with bald tires. Inspectors said an exposed wire could be seen coming out of at least one of the tires. The remaining charges were for not wearing a seat belt.
