Only about two thirds of traffic fines issued in Belgium to drivers from other EU countries are paid, far fewer than the roughly 90% collected from Belgian motorists.
Since 2021, the Federal Public Service Justice has processed more than 5.3 million traffic fines involving offenders from elsewhere in the European Union. Of those, around 3.6 million were paid.
Drivers from Belgium’s neighbouring countries, who account for most fines issued to foreign motorists, are the most likely to pay. Dutch drivers top the list, paying about 86% of fines.
They are followed by drivers from Luxembourg, who pay 80%, and German motorists, who pay 75%. French drivers are among the worst payers, with nearly half of fines remaining unpaid.
One reason is that in some cases the Federal Public Service Justice cannot find enough information in a European database to identify the offender correctly. When that happens, a fine cannot be issued.
“We will continue to investigate and clarify with our French partners why we sometimes get no result for a French offender,” spokesperson Edward Landtsheere told VRT NWS.
