Lawyer Driving Ban Brussels | Novex Advocaten
A driving ban can seriously disrupt your professional and personal life. Whether it is a driving ban due to alcohol intoxication, speeding, drugs in traffic or any other offence, Novex Advocaten defends you before the police court in Brussels and strives for minimal or limited enforcement of the driving ban.
Direct contact: 048 499 22 72 | asfour@novexadvocaten.be
Types of driving bans in Belgium
Belgian traffic law has two forms of driving ban:
- Optional driving ban: the judge decides freely whether to impose a driving ban and for how long. This is common for first offences or minor offences.
- Mandatory driving ban: for certain offences (e.g., fourth-degree speeding, repeat alcohol intoxication), a driving ban is required by law. The judge then has less discretion over the principle but more discretion over the duration.
Duration of driving ban
The duration of the driving ban varies widely depending on the facts and background:
- Minimum 8 days (for most traffic offences)
- Minimum 3 months (in case of hit-and-run)
- Up to several years for serious recidivism
- Lifetime driving ban in exceptionally severe cases
Restricted driving: driving for professional purposes
In certain cases, the court can issue a restricted driving ban: you are then only allowed to drive for professional purposes (e.g., only on weekdays during working hours). This is an important option for people who depend on their driving licence for work. A lawyer can specifically ask for this and substantiate it with your professional situation.
Suspended driving ban
For a first offence, the court may impose the driving ban with a delay. This means that the driving ban is not effectively enforced, provided you do not commit another offence within a certain period of time. A lawyer can specifically request a deferral and provide legal justification.
Forfeiture of right to drive vs. driving ban
Forfeiture of the right to drive is more severe than a driving ban. Forfeiture requires you to surrender your licence and pass medical, psychological, theoretical and/or practical exams to get it back. A lawyer will do everything possible to keep a driving ban to its minimum and avoid the forfeiture of the right to drive.
Contact Novex Advocaten
Are you facing a driving ban? Contact us as soon as possible. Novex Advocaten works for the police courts of Brussels, Halle, Leuven and Vilvoorde and communicates in Dutch, French and English.
📞 048 499 22 72
📧 asfour@novexadvocaten.be
📍 Avenue Louise 379, 1050 Brussels
How long does a driving ban last in Belgium?
The length of a driving ban depends on the severity of the offence and any recidivism. A minimum driving ban of 8 days is imposed for most traffic offences. For alcohol behind the wheel, drugs in traffic or hit-and-run offences, the driving ban quickly rises to several months or years. As a Brussels driving ban lawyer, Novex Advocaten strives to minimise the duration of the driving ban or to optimize its implementation.
Immediate revocation of driving licence
The police can immediately revoke your driving licence for a period of 15 days as a backstop for a court-ordered driving ban. This is a protective measure that takes effect from the time of the violation. Your Brussels driving ban lawyer can verify that this immediate revocation was applied correctly and that the time limits are counted correctly.
Driving ban and professional distress
A driving ban can seriously interfere with your professional activity. In certain cases, the judge may take your professional situation into account when determining the duration or enforcement modalities. Novex Advocaten argues concretely about your personal and professional situation to minimise the impact of the driving ban.
Frequently asked questions about driving ban
Can I appeal a driving ban? Yes. If you disagree with the imposed driving ban, you can appeal to the Court of Appeals. Novex Advocaten will guide you through this procedure.
Can I get my driving licence back sooner? In some cases, the judge may allow earlier return of the driving licence at the time of judgment or through subsequent proceedings, such as after passing reinstatement examinations. A Brussels driving ban lawyer will investigate all possibilities.
For assistance with a driving ban in Brussels, Halle, Leuven or Vilvoorde, contact Novex Advocaten at 048 499 22 72 or asfour@novexadvocaten.be.