112 speeding offences in eight years, and still behind the wheel. The story of Alain Yzermans is enough to raise eyebrows. This Belgian deputy-mayor, regularly clocked well beyond the limit, saw the justice system order, then overturn, a license suspension. At the heart of the case lies a parliamentary immunity applied with millimeter precision, even as his driving record is notably lengthy.
The numbers are staggering. In eight years, this 59-year-old politician racked up 112 traffic violations. He serves as the mayor of Houthalen-Helchteren, in Belgium’s Flemish province of Limburg, and also sits in the federal Parliament. Most of the allegations concern speeding captured by radar. Among them, a citation in Genk on October 17, 2024, for travelling 91 km/h in a 50 km/h zone (about 56 mph in a 31 mph zone). It was this major speeding infraction that triggered legal proceedings and led to a notably unusual outcome for Alain Yzermans.
112 speeding offenses, a license suspension… then nothing
The records detailing Alain Yzermans’ offenses speak for themselves. Over eight years, they show a little more than one ticket per month. The vast majority relate to speeding, sometimes by small margins, sometimes by much more. In Genk, on October 17, 2024, authorities recorded a speed of 97 km/h (about 60 mph). After accounting for tolerances, the charged speed was deemed 91 km/h in a 50 km/h zone (roughly 57 mph in a 31 mph zone). Exceeding the limit by more than 40 km/h (more than 25 mph over) is categorized as a major speeding offense under the Belgian traffic code, ordinarily justifying a severe penalty.
At first instance, in the Genk police court, Yzermans’ lawyer sought to invoke his status as a federal deputy. The judge refused to apply immunity, ruling that his heavy driving record did not work in his favor. The official was thus convicted to 21 days of license suspension and a €600 fine. He was also required to retake the theoretical portion of the driver’s test. “I do not wish to dispute the information published about me today. I understand that people have questions. I understand that they are angry,” Alain Yzermans said in a Facebook post, cited by Ouest-France. Amid the public outcry, he said he intended to keep a low profile and added, “We always find an excuse to drive too fast from time to time. But let’s be honest, there is no excuse.”
Parliamentary immunity, sanctions overturned and public mea culpa
The case took a decisive turn at the appeal stage. Contrary to what one might expect, it was not Yzermans who challenged his conviction, but the prosecutor. The prosecutor then acknowledged an “administrative error.” During the first trial, the lifting of the deputy’s parliamentary immunity had not been officially requested, as required by procedure. A second trial followed, and this time the court recognized the immunity as valid. The result: the ruling from the first instance was overturned, and the deputy retained his driving license. In the end, despite a long list of infractions, he escaped any sanction in this specific matter.
Speaking about the episode, Yzermans said he would have been prepared to accept the initial judgment. He explained that this is why he did not appeal on his own. He said he was “escaping penalties, albeit unintentionally,” and acknowledged the seriousness of his conduct. “Excessive speeding is dangerous and simply unacceptable. I am more aware of it than ever. I was wrong, and I sincerely regret it. I take full responsibility,” he said, attempting to persuade. The deputy-mayor also stressed his belief in equal treatment before the law: “A conviction in this case would have been the only fair outcome. The way the events unfolded is deeply troubling, even to me. We are all equal before the law, that is my strong conviction.” To turn the page, he announced his voluntary enrollment in a road-safety awareness program. He said, “The fight for road safety begins with me. I betrayed your trust in this regard, and I will do everything possible to win it back.”
