Amsterdam city council is trying to put an end to an app which warns vehicle owners when traffic wardens are using a special car to scan for non-payment of parking fees.

The app enables car owners to deliberately avoid taxes and should, therefore, be banned, council officials told a court hearing on Monday.

The app’s makers, however, say it should be seen as an aid to forgetful car owners to help them through the Amsterdam parking jungle and so avoid fines, the Financieele Dagblad reported. Their lawyer also told the court that parking fines in Amsterdam are big business.

In 2020, Amsterdam generated €321m from parking fees and fines, the paper said.

Lawyer Luis Roman also pointed out that apps warning drivers about speed traps on motorways are not illegal. ‘They too send a warning, just like Parkeerwekker does, nothing more and nothing less,’ he told the court.

The court will rule on February 1.