The police chief who said traffic fines are too high was slapped down on Tuesday afternoon by justice minister Ivo Opstelten.

Opstelten said the Brabant commissioner should not interfer with the sanctions themselves, but just make sure they are carried out. ‘Setting sanctions is for parliament and the state,’ the minister is quoted as saying.
Opstelten was reacting to a parliamentary question from Socialist MP Nine Kooiman, who shares police chief Hans Vissers’ concern about the high level of the fines.
Traffic
Vissers told broadcasting company Omroep Brabant he thinks the fines are too high and this makes police officers reluctant to write tickets for traffic violations.
‘His concern is not based on the facts,’ Opstelten said. ‘Lawbreakers themselves cite high fines as the most effective sanction against driving too fast.’
He did agree to an analysis of the impact of the fines on road safety and police work before fines are raised again.
Earlier stories
Traffic fines are too high: police chief