Mechelen – The Mechelen police, under the leadership of Dirk Van de Sande, initiated a crackdown on modified electric scooters, fat bikes, and mopeds in 2025. Mayor Bart Somers endorses these inspections aimed at mitigating reckless driving and enhancing street safety, reports 24brussels.
Authorities in Mechelen have launched a comprehensive operation targeting these vehicles, which are often altered to surpass legal speed limits, according to VRT News.
Dirk Van de Sande, spokesperson for the Rivierenland police zone, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating,
“These vehicles are being tuned the most. This is not only illegal but very dangerous.”
Police officers are meticulously inspecting vehicles and monitoring driver conduct, responding to numerous complaints regarding reckless and perilous driving. “We are going to tackle the show-offs in traffic,” stated Mayor Bart Somers.
Mechelen Police’s Approach to Modified E-Scooters
Mayor Somers underscored a commitment to stopping antisocial and unsafe driving behaviors, adding,
“We will pay close attention to cyclists in pedestrian zones and people showing off on scooters, fat bikes, or in cars,”
The police combine vehicle inspections with behavioral monitoring on the streets.
Speed checks for electric scooters and fat bikes have been conducted in Mechelen using a Dutch roller dynamometer, as Belgium currently lacks the technology necessary for accurate measurements. The Dutch model is employed because traditional Belgian equipment is inadequate for evaluating the performance of modified vehicles.
However, since the Dutch dynamometer is not officially sanctioned in Belgium, penalties cannot be applied based solely on its readings. If a vehicle is significantly modified, it must undergo testing on the less precise Belgian dynamometer before any fines can be imposed. Efforts are underway to gain approval for a more accurate dynamometer in Belgium.
The rise in concerns regarding tuned e-scooters, fat bikes, and mopeds has been noted since 2020, coinciding with their growing popularity in urban areas. Complaints about hazardous driving behaviors have surged since 2021 in cities like Antwerp and Ghent. By 2022, authorities began utilizing roller dynamometers in the Netherlands to more accurately assess vehicle speeds, highlighting the inadequacies of Belgian equipment.
