Fast lane to riches

The Belgian government needs money. Don't we all?! Some governments would chose to play above board and raise taxes, explaining why such is necessary and risk dealing with the unavoidable resultant strikes & protests. But not so Belgium.

In a country renown for its citizen's aptitude at finding "legal loopholes", the government has pulled a stunt worthy of its abject reputation: it has decided to "use" the law governing legal speed limits to its own advantage. These past few weeks, hundreds of traffic police have been rallied to the most obscure locations around the country in order to catch out unwitting drivers by the busload. At entry points to most of the local villages around Ghent, police have stopped and fined every car going anything from 11km/h above the 50km/h speed limit.

At a recent gathering with friends, 8 out of the 12 people present had been fined at least once in the last two weeks. Two of the 4 unfined people... don't drive. The average fine accrued by these 8 people in a matter of two weeks time amounted £125 each! I myself have so far managed to avoid any. But my very own mother has accumulated a staggering £200 worth of fines since the campaign started. Well done ma! When she got pulled over yet another time last week, the police officer actually apologised TO HER for partaking in this ridiculous campaign.

I think it's time to bring out that other Belgian characteristic: stubborn refusal.


(PS: for those of you in need of finding a legal "loophole" out of paying the entire fine... mail me. I've been enlightened about some clever dodger dealings at my last trip down the pub ;)