Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The police in Antwerp have confiscated a car and fined the driver after he fled a routine check-point and continued driving fast through a school zone while ignoring traffic signals. This development, which has occurred in the Hoboken locality, comes at a time when new calls have been made to warn drivers against engaging in such practices around schools.
What happened during the Antwerp police check?
It started after the police in Hoboken tried to execute a routine vehicle control in the vicinity of Eikenlei. However, the driver did not heed the order and sped away from the police, who pursued him for a while through the efforts of the South division of the neighbourhood team.
According to Antwerp police spokesperson Wouter Bruyns,
“The driver ignored the order to stop and evaded the check. A neighbourhood team from the South region then began a pursuit.”
The more the chase progressed, the more officers noticed that there was an increase in reckless behavior. The driver raced through a school zone, ignored road traffic signals and road signs, and also did not yield way to pedestrians crossing. It was noted that such behavior was extremely reckless considering that there were many vulnerable people around.
How did police respond to the dangerous driving?
In light of increasing risks, it became apparent that Antwerp police had no choice but to call off the pursuit in order not to drive too fast in a residential and school area. Regardless of the termination of the pursuit, the drivers could be identified through an investigation conducted by the police. This led to a ticket being issued for various traffic violations along with the confiscation of the car.
Explaining the rationale behind the seizure, Wouter Bruyns said,
“Given the dangerous driving and the many traffic violations observed, with major safety risks, police also decided to seize the vehicle.”
The move underscores a tougher stance on drivers who treat routine checks as an opportunity to flee and then compound the offence with reckless behaviour in sensitive zones.
Why was the vehicle seized instead of just fined?
Under the rules governing enforcement in Belgium, cars may be impounded in cases where their operation poses significant safety hazards, particularly in situations where there is repeated violation or severe infringement. Here, the impounding of the car is not due to the fact that one rule has been infringed but due to the hazard that is posed by the overall conduct in terms of running away from a check point, driving in a speed which is dangerous at a school area, going through traffic lights and failure to give way to pedestrians.Â
Generally, there has been a crackdown in Belgium regarding cases of high risk speeding. For instance, during the 24-hour Speed Marathon on the 8th and 9th of August, there were 49,086 speed infringements in one day. Penalties for speeding in a school or 30 km/h zone increase by €12 for each kilometer per hour above the 10 km/h over the limit.
What are the likely consequences for the driver?
The offender is now charged with a proces-verbaal that carries several charges, such as ignoring a stop signal by police, speeding in an area where there is a school, disobeying traffic lights and traffic signs, as well as not yielding to pedestrians. The car, which has been confiscated, will remain in the custody of the police, who will undertake other steps for further legal action.
