The police are taking action from today because there are still no new negotiations on an early retirement scheme. Some of the fines will not be issued. Does this mean that people can completely misbehave?
Anyone who commits a minor violation may not receive a fine, but a so-called ‘action ticket’. “In these cases, only a warning follows and the offenders receive a ticket with the wish for a safe day and information about our action,” explains the Dutch Police Association (NPB). The four police unions are all involved in the action that starts today.
It is not expected that people will consciously commit violations. After all, it is up to the officer in question whether or not he issues a ticket. “When the fine makes way for this ‘promotional ticket’ is of course up to the discretion of the police officer in question. Based on his own professionalism, the individual police officer determines when employers and politicians can and should feel this pinch.” In addition, not all agents in the Netherlands participate in the actions.
Police action for better pension ‘no free pass’
The Hague police officer Rutger Verhoef is participating. In the NOS Radio 1 News he explains which violations are not punished. “For example, not wearing a seat belt or minor speeding violations.” It’s not like you can just speed down the highway at 200. “We simply penalize violations where, for example, the driver’s license is confiscated. It is not a free pass.” This action suits drivers who press the accelerator a little too hard. Since this year, traffic fines have become significantly more expensive.
Verhoef notices that doing his job is quite difficult. “I’ve been doing this job since I was 18 and am now in my early 30s. When I was 18, I was sleeping around the clock. Now I sleep a few hours between night shifts. You will feel that physically. It is not healthy to be awake at night.”
Many people in our country work night shifts. But that’s a different story for police officers, the officer believes. “It is the combination of the nature of the work and that irregularity. Nine times out of ten, the work does not take place behind a desk. We are at the center of society. These are not the smallest situations you face.”
Agents want to stop before AOW
Agents would like to be able to retire early. The unions want a permanent arrangement that allows officers to stop working from the moment they have three years left until their state pension. There is no ultimatum or end date attached to the promotion. “In other words: the police unions will continue until results are achieved. If necessary, the pressure will be further increased and the tone of the actions will become tougher,” the Dutch Police Association said.
Traffic fines in the Netherlands are a topic of conversation at every coffee machine. They are there as a reminder to follow the rules. But according to critics, the strict regulations exist mainly to fill the treasury, wrote Subway before.
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