The number of fines around highways has risen remarkably since June 22, the police report. Around that time, protests against the government’s nitrogen policy began.
For example, according to the police, the number of fines for slow-moving motor vehicles on the highway has increased sharply. From seven times a week at the beginning of June, to 115 times in the seven campaign weeks, an average of sixteen per week. “The number of fined offenses linked to the farmer’s actions is probably even higher,” says national commander Willem Woelders. “Even though we do not register as ‘farmer protests’, the trend is clearly visible.”
In total, officers issued seven hundred extra traffic fines in recent weeks for violations related to the farmers’ protests. For example, considerably more fines were issued for driving on the highway with slow motor vehicles (186 times) or standing still on the roadway (a total of 212 fines). “Writing fines is not an objective in itself,” says Woelders. “But this is certainly a large number. And it concerns adult amounts.”
The registered arrests surrounding the farmer’s protests mostly concerned open violence against persons or property and disturbance of public order. Several suspects have also been arrested for attempted manslaughter or murder. Most suspects are under the age of 30.