A few months ago, the municipality of Boortmeerbeek, in Flanders, decided to install speed cameras in several places, without warning motorists via an information campaign, and without putting up road signs a few meters ahead. A practice considered shameful by the inhabitants of the town, while 2,000 fines have already been imposed.
According to information from the Nieuwsblad, social networks are teeming with angry residents, who were particularly surprised when going to their mailbox.
In total, four 30 km/h zones have been equipped with ANPR cameras in Hever, as well as a 30 zone and two 50 zones in Schiplaken. Bert Meulemans, member of the CD&V, expressed his dissatisfaction with these practices. For him, “it’s harassment”: “The majority has made a mess of it, resulting in absurd measures. She installs cameras in an area 30, where there are only overgrown gardens. It’s absurd. In addition, the speed limit measures in the center of Hever that existed before have disappeared, making driving too fast very easy”.
Bart Meulemans also does not agree with the fact that the municipality has not carried out an information campaign concerning these cameras. “You can see it with the numbers, because 2,000 fines have already been imposed,” he laments. Speed cameras are also not indicated by a road sign. “This system or the way it is managed is the flaw in our mobility policy,” adds Bart Meulemans.
Hans De Locht, Alderman for Mobility, did not hesitate to respond to criticism: “The system has been in place for seven months. An announcement panel is only mandatory on motorways, as it is dangerous to brake suddenly. It has even become common to no longer put it in the 50 and 30 zones,” he explains. “With these measures, we want to discourage through traffic in our village centers. And whoever does it anyway is obliged to do it in a controlled way,” concludes the alderman.