Belgium Plans Higher Fines for Minor Traffic Offenses

Drivers in Belgium could face higher fines for certain minor traffic offenses under a new government proposal that would increase municipal administrative penalties by up to 12 euros.

The federal Council of Ministers approved the draft measure on October 9, 2026, following earlier increases in other traffic penalties. The proposal aims to keep municipal fines in line with the amounts drivers pay for comparable offenses under Belgium’s broader traffic enforcement system.

The changes would affect certain offenses covered by the municipal administrative sanctions system, commonly known as GAS in Dutch and SAC in French.

How Much Would the Fines Increase?

The draft royal decree proposes the following changes:

•  First-category offenses: The fine would rise from 58 euros to 64 euros, an increase of 6 euros.
• Second-category offenses: The fine would increase from 116 euros to 128 euros, an increase of 12 euros.

These amounts apply to specific traffic offenses that municipalities are legally permitted to handle through administrative penalties. They do not mean that every minor traffic violation in Belgium will receive the same fine.

Why Is Belgium Increasing the Fines?

The proposal follows a broader adjustment to Belgium’s traffic penalties.

In November 2025, the federal government decided to increase additional surcharges used to calculate criminal fines. Authorities subsequently revised the amounts drivers pay through immediate traffic settlements, which allow certain cases to be resolved without first going to a criminal court.

Those revised immediate-payment amounts took effect on July 1, 2026. The first-category amount rose to 64 euros, while the second-category amount increased to 128 euros.

The government now wants municipal administrative fines to follow the same amounts for comparable offenses. According to the official announcement, the aim is to maintain consistency between administrative penalties and criminal traffic fines.

Which Traffic Violations Are Covered?

The proposed increases concern traffic offenses that can be punished through Belgium’s GAS/SAC municipal administrative sanctions system.

Not every traffic offense qualifies. Whether a municipality can issue an administrative fine depends on the applicable legislation and the type of violation.

The proposal is specifically about the fixed penalties for first- and second-category traffic offenses covered by the relevant royal decree. It should not be interpreted as a general increase in every municipal administrative penalty, including those imposed for unrelated public-order issues.

When Will the New Fines Take Effect?

The new amounts are not yet confirmed as being in force under this proposal.

Although the Council of Ministers approved the draft on October 9, it must still be submitted to the Council of State for an advisory opinion before the remaining legal steps can be completed.

Drivers should therefore distinguish between the proposed municipal fine increases and the separate increases in immediate traffic settlements that already took effect on July 1, 2026.

The final decision and its official publication will determine when the new municipal administrative fines become applicable.