The Brussels-Capital Region Government will introduce mobile scanners to fine drivers of foreign vehicles violating the rules of the Low Emission Zones (LEZ), starting this autumn.
Brussels has had Low Emission Zones (in which certain polluting cars and other vehicles are no longer allowed to enter) since October 2018, with the aim of improving air quality. As a camera checks the licence plates of cars, vehicles that incorrectly enter the LEZ risk a fine of €350.
Only in 2019, however, it turned out that only Belgian cars were fined, as European regulations ensure that drivers' personal data cannot be exchanged between Member States unless there is a bilateral agreement between countries or if foreign vehicles are registered in advance.
While such a registration is in theory mandatory for all cars, few drivers actually register. They risk a fine of €150.
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Since then, a series of measures have been taken. The main solution for fining foreign cars is mobile inspection teams, the office of Brussels Environment Minister Alain Maron told Bruzz. With a camera on board, they can immediately verify whether a foreign car is registered.
To do this, the Brussels government first had to amend the legislation – which has since happened. From the autumn, these mobile teams will be operational, a spokesperson for Brussels Mobility Minister Elke Van den Brandt told the outlet.
In the meantime, the number of fines for Belgian cars that are in violation of an LEZ is increasing every year, figures from Brussels Environment show. In 2019, it concerned 7,855 cars – a number that more than doubled (to nearly 19,000) in 2022. In total, this amounts to almost €5.7 million in fines.
