Motorists forked out €430 million in fines last year

Belgium has found a great way to stuff the coffers by handing out fines to motorists, and a lot of them. Last year, drivers in Belgium donated handsomely to the state, shelling out the amount of €430 million, the majority of it in traffic fines. The 2013 take increased by €50 million over last year’s figures. The big jump in fines is being attributed to an increase in police checks, the amount motorists are being made to pay, and a system that is better streamlined to distribute fines.

The Belgian motorists’ association Touring is against the rise in fines, and cannot see a correlation between pricier tickets and increased road safety. It has called on authorities to use the funds to better train young people on safe driving.