Motorists in the eastern city of Genk (Limburg) who collect sixteen speeding offences in only three months will in future forfeit their car says Genk Mayor Wim Dries: “These are drivers who prefer to pay a fine rather than to stick to the speed limit”.
“Genk wants to enhance traffic safety. An important aspect is stopping drivers from speeding and getting motorists to moderate their speed” says Mr Dries. The municipality introduced eleven average speed camera systems in 2022 and a twelfth has now been added. “We’ve noticed that the great majority of drivers have modified their behaviour on average speed camera routes, but there is still an important group of persistent repeat offenders. That’s why the new rules are being introduced”.
“People caught speeding eight times will get a letter to explain the situation. If they are caught speeding twelve times, they are invited to city hall for a chat and we discuss ways in which they can change their behaviour. If it happens sixteen times, their vehicle will be seized for two weeks. It’s our way of sending a signal to persistent offenders” says the mayor.
Since April Genk police have been taking a hard stand against vehicles that have been pimped or embellished in an ostentatious way to attract a lot of attention and make a lot of noise. Dangerous and obstructing behaviour by such drivers can also cause annoyance and for this reason too cars can be seized. Last summer in only two weeks police twice seized the same vehicle that had been used to drive dangerously.