In the run-up to New Year’s Eve, the police held a major check at the Belgian border near Roosendaal on Saturday. Drones were used to track fireworks buyers with a Dutch license plate at the fireworks store, after which officers with inconspicuous cars checked the vehicles for the purchased load and seized them.
Because the drones can zoom in very far, the agents know exactly who has been shopping at the fireworks store across the border. “We can describe vehicles, take photos of them, read license plates and when some people load things in front of the store, we can see how much they are taking with them,” explains drone pilot Rogier van den Berg.
Other colleagues are now ready to stop fireworks buyers and check their cars for illegal fireworks. “With this action we are trying to anticipate the national fireworks ban that will come into effect from next year,” says fireworks coordinator Ko Minderhout.
It is forbidden to take fireworks with you
This weekend it is still prohibited to bring fireworks from Belgium to the Netherlands. In our country, fireworks may only be officially purchased from Monday, three days before New Year’s Eve. So whoever went to get all his arrows in Belgium on Saturday was the bunny.
Isn’t it a bit lame that there will be a check on Saturday? Ko Minderhout does not think so. “If something is not allowed, then that’s just how it is.”
‘Paid 1000 euros for the fireworks’
Despite the rules, several Dutch people went wrong on Saturday. For example, a young man was caught with his trunk full of fireworks. He thought he was not wrong because he had not bought fireworks. That turned out to be different.
The young man was in serious trouble and was able to give everything up to the police. He had bought about 800 to 1000 euros worth of fireworks and was very disappointed, but was not worried about his New Year’s Eve. “It is what it is, then I just have to get new ones in the Netherlands.”
During the action, a total of fifty cars were spotted in the fireworks trade across the border, of which at least six fireworks were seized. This involved more than 80 kilos of fireworks.
All offenders will receive a fine, which is not easy: they start at 100 euros and can increase considerably. If you violate the law more often, you may also receive a community service order and/or prison sentence.
Not waterproof
The system used on Saturday turned out not to be completely waterproof during the action. People who had visited the bakery in Belgium were also checked and had to open their trunks. Officers found only fresh bread rolls there, after which they could continue their way again. Fortunately, both the driver and the police could laugh about it.
