Flemish councils charged unlawful fees on traffic fines, investigation finds
Dozens of Flemish cities and municipalities wrongly charged extra fees on local traffic fines over the past few years, collecting at least 12 million euros without a legal basis, according to an investigation by Het Laatste Nieuws.
The newspaper found that 32 of 55 local authorities surveyed admitted adding extra charges to traffic fines. The unlawful fees affected an estimated 911,000 fines, although the true figure across Flanders is likely to be higher.
Some councils added administrative charges of 6-11 euros to every fine, while others imposed reminder or case management fees on drivers who paid late. Antwerp alone collected almost 4.7 million euros through these additional charges.
Several court rulings have found that such fees are unlawful before debt collection proceedings begin. Flemish Interior minister Hilde Crevits said local authorities should not have charged the extra costs and expressed disappointment that some ignored official guidance issued in 2024.
The Limburg municipality of Oudsbergen has already started refunding affected motorists, but most councils have not announced repayment plans. Legal experts told Het Laatste Nieuws that drivers who paid the unlawful charges should be reimbursed, although the Flemish government cannot force local authorities to do so.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO NICOLAS MAETERLINCK
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