Starting tomorrow, June 30th 2012, all speeding (and other) fines you incurred in either France or Belgium will be exchanged between the two neighboring countries.
Foreign cars and motorcycles represent 25% of speed radar fines (while they only account for 5% of the traffic), and so far, they managed to escape without paying their fines. Last year, 400,000 speeding fines were made by Belgium-registered vehicles in France. Each country will have access to the other country's Motor Vehicle registration database. With that, they have your name and address (at least, if you motorcycle is in your name).
The country in which you were caught speeding, or running a red light, will then send you directly the fine. If you decide not to pay, they'll forward a reminder (with a penalty), and if you still ignore them, your case will be sent to your own country's justice system.
This is where, IMHOIn My Humble Opinion, the system falls down. Your country will need to send police officers to get your money, and then send that money to the "other" country. They don't even get to keep a portion; no commission, no finder fee, no administration costs - nada. So in reality, there's no incentive to use their overworked cops to make money for some other country. The justice/courts of your country are under no obligation to do anything with your file.
Anyone out there want to "test" the system? Let me know.
Via: Minister of Transport
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