Culemborg traffic check collects €26,600 in unpaid tax
Police, the tax office, customs and the municipality stopped 66 vehicles on Thursday, finding drivers under the influence and people without licences alongside the tax arrears.
A joint traffic check in Culemborg on Thursday collected €26,600 in outstanding tax debts, the municipality said a day later. Police, the tax office (Belastingdienst), customs and the municipality checked 66 vehicles at the Triosingel.
Police motorcyclists picked out drivers at various places in the city and escorted them to the checkpoint. The check targeted tax offences and subversive crime (ondermijnende criminaliteit), not just road safety.
Officials drew up 15 official reports (processen-verbaal). Fifteen vehicles were taken off the road, and three of those were seized. Three drivers had no driving licence, two were under the influence and two more could not show their licence, the municipality said.
Other findings included a wrongly parked car, a car with windows that were too dark and a driver on the phone. Three cars had worn tyres, one had a leaking exhaust and one vehicle had defective lighting.
About 40 staff from the police, tax office, customs, the municipality and the Interventieteam De Waarden took part, along with a customs sniffer dog.
"Most residents follow the rules and contribute every day to a safe city," said mayor Marinke Mulder. "That is exactly why it is important that we act against situations that endanger road safety or where people deliberately dodge their responsibilities. By combining the strengths of different government services, we get a fuller picture of what is going on."
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Follow the story: Belastingdienst
Belastingdienst
The Belastingdienst is the Dutch tax administration, part of the Ministry of Finance, and it is the English-language name for the Dutch national tax authority. It collects taxes and levies such as income tax, VAT and motor vehicle tax (MRB), and it also includes Douane (customs). It matters because most residents and employees deal with it for tax returns, tax payments and debts owed to the state.
Interventieteam De Waarden
Interventieteam De Waarden is a Dutch intervention team, a specialised unit that supports police operations which need extra capacity or special tactics. It works alongside the police and other partners on enforcement operations, such as joint checks with the tax office, customs and municipalities.