Brussels low-emission zone: 1,900 fines issued since beginning of July

Some 1,900 fines have been issued to polluting vehicles in Brussels’ Low-Emission Zone (LEZ) this summer, under tighter rules introduced this year.

Diesel vehicles manufactured between 2011 and 2015, as well as petrol vehicles dating from before 2001, have been banned from the capital since January. Drivers, though, were initially granted a grace period, reports RTBF.

Since 1 July, offenders face being fined after receiving an initial warning. "When an offender enters the LEZ for the first time — regardless of when they enter — they receive a warning first. Consequently, we have sent several thousand warnings to citizens," confirmed Youcef Hammani, director of Brussels’ fiscality department.

According to the director, the measure is not intended purely to generate revenue but aims primarily to improve quality of life and the environment.

The LEZ legislation is intended to take the most polluting cars off the road to improve the health of Brussels citizens. The capital is one of the most polluted cities in Europe when it comes to air quality.

Tighter regulations were initially planned to come into force at the beginning of 2025. But they were postponed to 1 January 2027 after pressure from various interests, especially in the transport sector. 

Drivers of vehicles that violate LEZ standards can be fined €350.