Gov't collection agency wants to ditch automatically increasing fines

The Central Judicial Collection Agency (CJIB) wants more room to stop increases in traffic fine collection. According to the implementing organization, increases can have "evidently unreasonable consequences." The CJIB reported this in its State of Implementation 2023.

With traffic fines, the fine increases by 50 percent when a reminder is sent and 100 percent after a second reminder. This means that a fine of 50 euros could go up to 150 euros.

However, in some cases, for example, there are "demonstrable special situations of force majeure," according to the CJIB. "Currently, the CJIB does not have sufficient scope to apply special customization to several specific situations, and sometimes the judge or the Public Prosecution Service is charged with waiving increases."

The CJIB also wants to stop the execution of penalty orders in which fines are imposed in "harsh situations." The Public Prosecution Service can impose a penalty itself for common criminal offenses with a penalty order. According to the organization in the State of Implementation 2023, approximately 300,000 penalty orders in which a fine is imposed are issued annually.

"The execution of sentences is the final link in the criminal justice chain." However, there are no possibilities to stop this so-called execution if harsh situations arise in which the execution no longer always seems reasonable, according to the CJIB. "Pardon is also not possible."

The trade Association for debt counseling NVVK calls the CJIB's position encouraging news. "Anyone who receives a fine should pay it in principle," says a spokesperson. "But we are talking about a group of people who no longer know what to do with the mail and leave it unopened. It is good that the CJIB wants to apply a more human dimension."