In the Netherlands speeding tickets are much more expensive than in the neighbouring countries.

Commercial news channel RTL Nieuws compared the rates of speeding tickets in The Netherlands with those in Spain, France, Germany, Belgium and Luxemburg.

Dutch motorists pay 110 euros for exceeding the speed limit by 15 kilometres an hour, compared to just 20 euros in Germany and 45 euros in France.

In 2006 the Dutch rates of fines were still below average, but have gone up by 66 percent since then.

The government says rates are so steep to improve traffic safety and influence driver behaviour.

However experts told RTL Nieuws that the rates went up to generate additional income for the justice ministry.

Koos Spee, the former head of the Bureau for Traffic Enforcement of the Public Prosecution Service, told the news channel he was sometimes asked to come to the ministry to provide an explanation for a decrease in ticket revenue.

“You would later see a drastic increase in the rates of fines. Apparently it is all about the money after all.”

(gsh)

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide