A request in the process of materializing? This Friday, the Minister of Justice, Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) will present to the Council of Ministers her bill introducing the concept of homicide within the framework of traffic within the penal code. “”Using terms such as regrettable accident in the event of death on the road is no longer compatible with the severity of dangerous behavior, and even less with its possible consequences “Résume Annelies Verlinden.
“It is not an accident, it is not involuntary”: Vanessa Matz (the committed) pleads for the integration of the trucky homicide into the penal code
Alternated sanctions
The brand new Belgian penal code, the fruit of long and complex political discussions, must come into force on April 8, 2026. In its current version, the reformed text provides for sentences that can go up to five years in prison and 10,000 euros fine. And what is the reason for the accident, whether inattention or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Insufficient for some parliamentarians. Under the previous legislature, Vanessa Matz (the committed) had brought the introduction of “Road homicide“In law. In vain, his amendment was not retained in order to preserve the political balances which had allowed the adoption of the new code.
But the coming to power of Arizona (with French -speaking centrists on board) has rebuilt the cards. In its government agreement, the majority clearly announces its ambition to change the situation. And this evolution will not only be semantic: it will also result in a hardening of sanctions. Annelies Verlinden wishes to double the maximum prison sentence (from five to ten years). On the portfolio side, the fine will be even more salty in the future with a sum of up to 16,000 euros. “”We want to send a clear message to all road users, and in particular recurrences who still do not seem to be aware of the consequences of their dangerous conduct “explains the minister.
No to the establishment of a “road homicide”: the law is not there to satisfy popular vindictive