28m euros in unpaid traffic fines recovered from offenders' salaries

In the first eight months of the year, the government recovered almost 28 million euros in unpaid traffic fines from offenders’ salaries. This is double the amount recovered in 2022, Het Nieuwsblad reported on Friday.

As of this year, the government is able to seize unpaid fines more quickly. If an offending driver repeatedly refuses to pay, it is no longer necessary to refer them to court. The FPS Justice can send a payment order and the FPS Finance is authorised to recover the amount via their wages or taxes. If necessary, a bailiff can also be appointed. 

“These are people who have already received several warnings and reminders,” says Francis Adyns of the FPS Finance. “They cannot say they were not informed.”

In 2022, driving fines brought in a record 543 million euros, 10 per cent more than the previous year. Based on the first eight months of the year, the government is on track to collect 550 million euros from traffic fines.

^{© PHOTO BELPRESS}

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