Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – In Mechelen, 4 out of 10 disputed GAS traffic fines are canceled. Councillor Delvoye sees this as valuable feedback. Mayor Calvo says the system works fairly.
In Mechelen, many people are winning their cases against traffic fines. About 4 out of 10 people won their cases. Officials mentioned that a lot of the GAS fines might have been given when the rules were unclear, the signs were not good enough, or the rules were enforced too strictly.
A city council member, Anne Delvoye, thinks this is good news. She believes it shows that the system is working and that people can fight back when they think they’ve been treated unfairly. She mentioned that the system is fair because people’s complaints are being heard and taken seriously.
Do disputed traffic fines in Mechelen indicate system flaws?
According to Delvoye, fighting a GAS fine is not a waste of time but a way to give the city feedback. She says that many people pay their fines even if they think they are wrong because they think fighting it won’t work. But the numbers show that fighting fines does work and can lead to results. Delvoye says this feedback helps make the system better overall, making it not just about punishment but also about being fair and responsive.
“For example, if you drive from the Battelsesteenweg onto the Vesten, you are only allowed to turn left if your license plate is registered. People see that sign too late and follow the car in front of them,”
Devoye concludes.
The acting mayor, Kristof Calvo, sees the number of people who successfully challenged their traffic fines differently. While in 2024, 7,916 people fought their fines and 3,292 won, he doesn’t think this means there are big problems with how fines are given out. He says that the city gave out over 103,000 fines, and only a small number were canceled.
He thinks this is not a big deal and doesn’t mean that the signs or rules are unclear. Instead, he thinks this shows that the system is working because people can explain their side of the story and sometimes get their fines canceled.
Calvo thinks it’s important for people to know that they can challenge their fines. He says that letting people explain themselves and then making fair decisions shows that the city listens and is reasonable.
He thinks this process is a good way for people to be involved in the city. He says that Mechelen doesn’t just follow the rules without thinking but considers each situation and what happened.
However, he says that the fact that some fines are canceled doesn’t mean that the signs are bad or the rules are confusing. He thinks the numbers show that mistakes happen, by both people and the city, and that having a clear process for appeals makes sure that these mistakes can be fixed.
