Fines for traffic violations will soon increase by 10%; court fines will even increase by 25%. This was confirmed by the office of Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V). In concrete terms, this means that a minor first-degree offense, such as forgetting to signal, will now cost €63.80 instead of €58.

A second-degree offense will increase from €116 to €127.60, and a third-degree offense, such as using a mobile phone while driving, will increase from €174 to €191.40. For comparison, in the Netherlands, the fine for the latter is 430 euros, more than double.

To improve traffic safety?

The decision immediately raises a fundamental question: Is this a necessary intervention to improve road safety, or is the motorist an easy target to fill the gap in the state coffers? Mobility organization Touring immediately responded: “Motorists are once again being targeted to boost state coffers.”

Touring emphasizes that owning and using motor vehicles already generates more than €21.4 billion in tax revenue for the Belgian treasury every year, making Belgium one of the most expensive countries in Europe to own a car.

‘Necessary budgetary measure’

These increases, however, are a direct consequence of the budget agreement. The office of Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) expects them to generate €50 million annually, an amount that can be reinvested in the Justice Department – ​​a “necessary budgetary measure,” according to the government.

But do higher fines also lead to greater road safety? Both Touring and the Vias traffic institute agree that it’s not the amount of the fine, but the likelihood of being caught that leads to a change in road user behavior. A fine must also be heavy enough to send a signal, but of course, that threshold varies from person to person.

Alternative punishments

However, it turns out that alternative punishments have the most significant impact: requiring medical and psychological tests and retaking the theoretical and practical driving tests after a conviction have the greatest effect.

“Losing your driver’s license for fourteen days has a much greater impact than a €300 fine, because it forces the convicted person to restructure their life,” concludes Vias spokesperson Stef Willems.

It’s still unclear exactly when the increases will take effect. This will depend on the finalization of the program law, which will finalize the recent budget talks.