Customs collects more and more late fines from defaulters thanks to smart cameras | money

Since January 1, 2017, smart cameras for customs fear defaulters in our country. Since then, ANPR cameras, which can scan the license plates of passing cars, have been linked to a database of people and companies that have late fines in their name.

The introduction of smart cameras was an instant success, with €1.7 million in late fines collected in the first year. In 2018, the amount was also 1.7 million euros, after which the amount decreased. For example, 1.2 million euros were recovered in 2019 and 1.1 million euros in 2020.

But since 2021, the numbers have risen sharply. Last year, a total of 3,686 fines were collected, representing a total of €2.5 million.

It also seems to be going the same way in 2022. At the end of August, 2,246 combinations worth 1.7 million euros have already been registered. “It is important to know that this is not just a fine pending,” said Francis Addins, a spokesman for FPS Finance. “We’re really talking about a clear unwillingness to pay. So all the people in the database got at least three warnings and usually the file went on for months, sometimes even a year.”