Antwerp police confiscate more vehicles of reckless drivers (Antwerp)
In the first two months of this year, the Antwerp police seized seven vehicles belonging to reckless drivers. There are interim police as in all of 2019, when the seizures started in the fight against reckless and antisocial driving. The numbers are increasing year after year. “And our police will use this instrument even more often to give violators every chance,” says Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA).
In 2019, the Antwerp police stepped up a gear in tackling the so-called ‘bastards’: reckless drivers whose driving behavior endangers the safety of other road users. In consultation with the Antwerp prosecutor’s office to start a new one, which allows the creation of weapons to take from those who develop reckless driving.
Patserwagen
Seven vehicles have already been seized by the police in the first two months of this year. And it’s not just about the so-called ‘patserwagens’, ordinary cars, motorcycles and mopeds are also removed from traffic in this way. “Both the traffic police and the neighborhood work are strongly committed to it and that is reflected in the figures,” says Mayor Bart De Wever (N-VA). “We also notice that the seizure is a very rewarding curb on risky driving. Police officers can make a real difference in this way, by removing vehicles belonging to drivers who pose a danger to the immediate environment. we make our neighborhoods safer and we can take action against the perpetrators.”
Driving ban
And those perpetrators, all men with the exception of one woman, are not ready for their test. A few of them had an active driving ban at the time they were checked. Others already had an extensive record of traffic violation laws. The age of the drivers is 27 years and three quarters of the offenders is younger than 30. During the checks, the police once found laughing gas and other substances.
The offenders not only lost their vehicle for a few weeks. They must also take a responsible driving course, otherwise they will receive a GAS fine on top of it. They also have to pay for the towing and stable costs on top of the fines for the traffic violations that have started.
“Apply more often”
It is also striking that it does not only concern ‘patser cars’, but also ‘normal’ cars. Last year, training was given across the entire police force to familiarize officers and inspectors with the procedure. Mayor De Wever therefore expects that even more seizures will take place in the future. He also calls on the Antwerp resident to report reckless driving. “We have a lot of eyes on the field, and through extensive training, intervention services and emergency aid can also arrange seizures”, De Wever. “But it remains really important that Antwerp residents report unsafe and dangerous driving behavior to our police services as soon as possible. We see that these reports often result in a resolute intervention. To make our city even safer on the road, our police will use this instrument more often to give violators every chance.”
Some examples
Aggression at the Sportpaleis
Last Sunday, February 27, near the Sportpaleis in Deurne, the police seized another vehicle. The driver ignored the order of a police officer who directed traffic at the intersection of Noordersingel and Slachthuislaan. The man obtained the warrant from the police and deliberately drove into the officer. She was hit in the leg, but was unharmed. The driver was particularly verbal and exited the intersection. eventually he finished, but once he got to the parking lot of the Sportpaleis, he also had problems there and he was aggressive towards the parking supervision. The vehicle was seized and in addition to an extensive police report for traffic violations, the police also prepared a report for armed inconsistency.
120 km/h through built-up areas
During an action, the district support team of the East region noticed a vehicle whose driver did not follow the traffic rules too closely. The man drove at a speed of more than 120 km/h through built-up areas where a 50 km/h restriction applies. The driver was found to have a current driving ban until March 2023. The car has been seized administratively.
Formula 1 in Deurne
The police received several reports about dangerous driving in Deurne. He started tailgating on the Lakborslei. He passed left over a displacement plane in the original direction of a car, an oncoming vehicle hit at a dangerous close distance. A little further on, the driver behaved like a Formula 1 driver who wanted to warm his tires by making hose movements, dangerously close behind a vehicle in front. After the intervention of the police, the car of the 19-year-old driver was seized and his driver’s license revoked. The driver and his three passengers, including children aged 10 and 15, continued on their way in an alternative way.
Racing in the Rivierenhof
Officers who were working in the police station in the Unolaan In Deurne saw how someone drove a sports car at high speed on the Parkweg. That is the road that borders the Rivierenhof and where passenger cars are not allowed. At that moment there are walkers, cyclists, children playing … even jumping away from them to escape. After the intervention of an intervention patrol, the leadership of the East region confiscated the rent with German registration.