Fernanda Vandewalle, a 92-year-old Belgian woman, received two speeding fines even though she has not driven for over a year. She lives in a care home, and her car sits unused at her daughter’s home.
The first fine came on 18 December 2025 in Farciennes, when her car traveled at 80 km/h in a 70 km/h zone. Then, on 29 December 2025, authorities issued another fine in Brussels for the same vehicle.
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Woman Denies Driving and Refuses to Pay
Vandewalle told local media that she no longer drives and finds the fines unfair. “I don’t drive anymore, yet I am being fined. It makes no sense,” she said. Moreover, she added that at her age, she cannot travel long distances.
The Belgian transport authorities said they issued the fines based on her car’s registration. However, the vehicle is no longer in use. Vandewalle plans to contest the fines in court.
Why This Happened and What Can Be Done
Belgium uses speed cameras and vehicle registration records to catch violations. Therefore, cars that are registered but not in use can still trigger fines. Experts suggest updating registration records or temporarily de-registering unused vehicles. This step could prevent incidents like Vandewalle’s.
