The thousands of fines that have been handed out for the entry ban on Nieuwlandstraat in Tilburg are not waived by the judiciary. Since 1 July last year you are no longer allowed to drive towards the Radiopleintje. Many motorists complain that the ban is not clearly marked. There have been 337 objections to a fine, but the first complainants are now being blunt.
A fine of 159 euros, that is what motorists can expect if they nevertheless drive into the Nieuwlandstraat at the Korte Tuinstraat in the city center. Permit holders are exempt and there is no prohibition between six and eleven o’clock in the morning. In this way, the municipality wants to keep the street car-free and liveable.
No fewer than 3959 fines were issued in the first two months. Many motorists do not agree with their ticket because they believe that the ban was unclear. A large number of them lodged an objection via the legal advice center in Tilburg. The first 77 of the 337 objections have now been rejected by the public prosecutor.
This is no surprise to Jeroen Jaspers from the legal aid shop. “The public prosecutor only checks whether an offense has been committed.” According to him, personal or special circumstances are not taken into account. “A subdistrict court will do that. That is why I advise people to appeal against the fine.”
For objectors there are no extra costs associated with going to the subdistrict court. According to Jaspers, the procedure could just take up to a year. “It would be nice if they bundle all objections. That saves both the court and the objectors a lot of time.”
After it rained fines for two months, the municipality of Tilburg adjusted the situation around the Radiopleintje. The pavement was changed and more and bigger signs were added. “Through these interim adjustments, I give the objectors a good chance before the subdistrict court”, says Jaspers.
SP councilor Helma Oostelbos believes that it should not have come to this. “The college itself has indicated that the situation was unclear and that fining people was not the aim.” It frustrates her that motorists now have to object en masse to the fines.
She denounces the enormous ‘administrative red tape’ that the municipality causes for the judiciary and the subdistrict court. “They are already busy enough. The municipality should have informed the Public Prosecution Service that the situation was too unclear at first. Then all fines could have been dismissed.”
Even after the adjustments, it still rained fines, but less than before. From September to December, 3622 drivers still received the receipt. In January and February, hardly any fines were issued due to a malfunction, but last month it was hit 512 times.
Yusuf Celik of the PvdA still thinks that is ‘big’. “Then it is still not completely clear and we really have to come up with something to reduce the number of fines.” According to Oostelbos, the one-way traffic sign is especially confusing for motorists coming from Korte Tuinstraat. “You will be sent to a ticket in no time.”
In August, Omroep Brabant spoke to motorists on the point in question.