Els Declerck resides in Masseik and commutes to work in Bree. While driving to work, she was caught speeding twice in a 50 km/h zone–both instances occurred at 2:22 p.m. Her speed was recorded at 54 km/h, which led to a fine of 53 euros for the offence. Shortly following, she received what she thought was a second letter detailing the same incident. However, it was a different fine- her Opel Corsa was caught speeding by a fixed camera stationed at number 120 and a mobile team in front of number 99 on the street. Els is surprised to receive two fines for overspeeding in a span of few hundred meters. Sadly for her, she must pay both fines as the decisions were made legally. The Genk police explains that there is no minimum distance between two measuring points; hence, two infractions warrant two fines.
Els Declerck lives in Masseik and works Bree. As she goes to work, she is flashed twice in a 50 zone, the first at 2:22 p.m. and the second at… 2:22 p.m. too! Her speeding is not huge but it is established, she was driving at 54km/h, speed corrected.
Els therefore receives a letter telling her that she must pay 53 euros for the offense committed. A few days later, she receives what she thinks is the same letter once more. “When I received the second, I first thought it was a recall. All the details seemed identical: same street, same time, same speed. So I did not pay this fine,” she told the Nieuwsblad.
It was, however, a second fine, not quite identical to the first: his Opel Corsa had been flashed by a fixed speed camera at number 120 and by a mobile team in front of number 99 on the street. She wonders if it is normal that she was fined twice over a distance of a few hundred meters.
No minimum distance
Unfortunately, the answer is not going to please Els, because she has to pay. “Fortunately, they didn’t put four radars there,” she said.
“Both decisions were made entirely legally. The speed limit of 50 kilometers per hour has been indicated several times. The distance between the measurement points was 250 meters. There is no minimum distance between two measuring points,” explains the Genk police.
Since there are two infractions, Els has to pay twice.
In conclusion, the unfortunate reality is that Els has to pay both fines as they were both legally made and there is no minimum distance required between two measuring points. It serves as a reminder to all drivers to obey speed limits and be mindful of their surroundings to avoid getting fined. Let this be a cautionary tale and a lesson to always be vigilant on the road.
