More on the spot fines for foreign drink-drivers

The fine rises to 170 euros. For professional drivers the tolerated alcohol ceiling falls to 0.2 per mill.

The changes form part of Belgium’s plan to cut traffic deaths to 420 a year by 2020.

The extra cash raised by the higher on-the-spot fines will be invested in more breathalysers. On the spot fines can also be levied on drivers with up to 1.2 per mill alcohol blood levels. For foreign drivers the ceiling rises to 1.5 per mill.

Repeat offenders will see their licence withdrawn for three months. The measure covers repeat offences like drink-driving, fleeing the scene of an accident, using radar detection for speed traps and driving without a licence when this occurs within 3 years of a previous offence. Overtaking on the left on an incline or a bend and street racing are being added to the offences.

Drivers who have their licence withdrawn will have to redo their test and undergo a medical and psychological test.

Late merging is being made obligatory. Tow-away vehicles, judges and funeral directors will be able to use the hard shoulder if they have been called in by the police and display an orange flashing light.

[Flandersnews.be / Expatica]