Flemish Parliament asks De Lijn to develop a uniform system for traffic fines
The Flemish Parliament is calling on De Lijn to develop a uniform system for the payment of traffic fines by its drivers. Currently, there are significant regional differences in how fines are handled. At the request of the Flemish majority parties (N-VA, CD&V and Vooruit), De Lijn will now be asked to ensure greater consistency.
In 2023, De Lijn received 2,929 traffic fines, an increase of 81 per cent compared to four years earlier. On average, the transport company pays 71 per cent of these fines. But the figures vary widely by region. In Limburg, nearly half of the fines are paid by the drivers themselves, while in Antwerp, that figure is just 13.5 per cent.
To eliminate these discrepancies, the majority parties in the Flemish Parliament are submitting a resolution urging De Lijn to introduce a uniform system. "We must finally get rid of these strong regional differences," said initiator Bert Maertens (N-VA). According to him, the variation stems from historical factors: De Lijn was once made up of five regional entities, each of which made its own agreements with trade unions. Previous attempts to establish uniform rules have failed.
"The contract between De Lijn and the Flemish government, which is valid until 2027, also clearly states that De Lijn has the task of working on a clear, equal, fair and sensitising fine system," added An Christaens (CD&V). "Especially in times of driver shortages, transparency and equal treatment are a must: it is high time that the organisation puts its money where its mouth is."
According to Els Robeyns (Vooruit), the goal is not to make drivers pay the full amount of fines, but rather to establish "a fairer system."
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO BELPRESS
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