Flemish Government gets tough on uninspected vehicles in 2024

Starting on January 1, 2024, the Flemish Government will take strict action against vehicles that fail to undergo timely technical inspections yet continue to operate on Flemish highways. With a new regulation on the horizon, police officers will be empowered to issue immediate fines to drivers, with penalties that can go as high as €3,500.

On January 1, 2024, a new regulation will come into effect that allows for immediate enforcement through on-the-spot fines or the payment of a consignment.

For vehicles falling under categories M2, N2, M3, N3, O3, O4, T1b, T2b, T3b, T4.1b, T4.2b, and T4.3b, the violations may lead to the following fines:

• No valid inspection certificate: €1,000
• Inability to present an inspection certificate, but where its existence can be immediately proven: €75
• Presenting a false, counterfeit, or destroyed inspection certificate or falsified/destroyed data thereof: €2,500

If a vehicle does not fall into one of these aforementioned categories, fines for these violations are reduced to €116, €25, and €2,500, respectively.

The rate of immediate fines is the sum of the amounts for each identified violation. The regulation imposes a maximum cap of €3,500 for multiple offences by the same person during the same check. If this amount is exceeded, immediate fines cannot be paid, and the case will be taken to court.

When the driver has no residence or domicile in Belgium, law enforcement officers may request a specific sum as consignment. The driver must be aware of the distinction between immediate fines and consignments.

The fine or consignment can be paid using a payment terminal. If immediate payment is not possible, a proposal for an immediate fine will be sent within fourteen days, and the sum must then be paid within ten days. The payment will be documented in a report and forwarded to the Public Prosecutor's Office.

Lastly, the regulation also allows law enforcement officers to utilize visual recordings to accurately identify violations.

Should you have any questions regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to assist you.