Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Police in Ghent conducted checks near the Flanders Expo over the weekend and found 49 people who turned out positive for alcohol. They seized 36 licenses, and 2 cars, and issued €4,300 in fines. 1 arrest was made.
Over the weekend, Ghent police did a big check near Flanders Expo. They found many people driving under the influence, even though there were strict rules. The checks happened on Friday, January 31, 2025, and Saturday nights February 1, 2025. A total of 49 people tested positive for alcohol or drugs. Out of these, 32 had too much alcohol, and 17 tested positive for drugs using saliva tests.
According to officials, this was a big concern because the event had a strict no-drug rule. The police took action by taking away 36 driving licenses right away. They also seized 2 cars and arrested 1 person for more investigation. In total, they gave out €4,300 in fines during this operation.
“These results show that checks are necessary,”
The Ghent police announced in a short press release.
How are Ghent police tackling impaired driving risks?
According to the Ghent police, checks like these are very important. They believe the results show that these checks need to happen. They mentioned that this operation is part of a bigger plan in Belgium to stop people from driving under the influence and to keep roads safer. There are also similar campaigns, like the nationwide
“Weekend without alcohol and drugs behind the wheel,”
That happen regularly.
The campaigns involve local and federal police working together. Officials mentioned that the main goal is to help people understand how dangerous it is to drive while impaired. They want to stop people from taking risks. They said that the high number of violations near Flanders Expo shows that we need to keep enforcing rules and educating everyone about safety on the roads.
The Ghent police have warned people about the dangers of driving after drinking alcohol or using drugs. They say this behaviour is not safe on the roads. Driving while impaired can affect both the driver and others. Because of recent problems, the police will do more checks. They ask everyone to make smart choices, like using a safe ride instead of driving when they are not sober.
“Driving under the influence is extremely dangerous. Alcohol and drugs have no place in traffic!”
Ghent Police.
Ghent police use Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras in some cars to find unsafe drivers. The local government is also focused on stopping bad driving habits. The police have a plan that includes stricter rules, taking away licenses, and seizing cars from repeat offenders. With these actions, the police want to discourage dangerous driving and make Ghent a safer place to live.
“We continue to focus on traffic safety,”
The police say.
Next week there will be an extra show at the Flanders Expo. “Protect yourself and others and choose a safe and sober ride.”
