Recently, a nitrous oxide ban has also been in place in Asten and Hilvarenbeek. This means that the possession and use of the party drug is prohibited in the majority of the 56 municipalities in Brabant. But fines are almost never handed out. With Breda and Halderberge as notable exceptions, according to a survey by Omroep Brabant. See below how it is in your municipality.
Because a national ban still stands after years not arranged more and more municipalities are taking matters into their own hands. They include a nitrous oxide ban in their General Local Regulation (APV), so that fines can be handed out.
(Almost) total ban
Last year, 35 municipalities had such a ban in their APV, now there are 45. The severity of the bans varies: many municipalities choose to act only in the event of nuisance or only in certain areas.
A total ban applies in four municipalities, even without nuisance and everywhere within the municipal boundaries. This applies to Steenbergen, Laarbeek, Loon op Zand and Rucphen.
Hardly any fines
It is unknown how many fines the police have handed out lately; no numbers are kept. In addition to agents, boas of the municipality can also hand out fines, and that is happening sparsely.
Most municipalities say they have never handed out a fine. Breda is an exception, where 12 fines have been handed out since the ban was introduced a year ago. In Halderberge, the counter for 2022 already stands at 7 fines.
Check out the situation in your municipality here: