On Wed, 20 Apr 2011 08:46:13 +0100, Mike wrote:

The one here on the Isle of Wight photographs your car on the way in and
times the photo.

and?

When you leave, it photographs it again, with the time.

and?

If you have been over two hours, you will receive a fine through the
post of £50.00 if you pay within 2 weeks,

Where have you been? This is quite common on large "free" car parks.

Tesco Hexham have such a system, but then just across the road is a
large council Pay and Display car park so I can see the free Tesco
one being abused. Fairly sure Tesco Carlisle @ J43 also has cameras.

As to being illegal not so sure(*) there are notices up, if you don't
bother to read them that's your look out.

(*) The driver is the one liable not the "registered keeper" that the
notice will have been sent to. You can probably insist that they
provide proof of who was driving, which they probably can via a head
on photograph of the car...

--
Cheers
Dave.