The image that civilians have of their government is strongly coloured by what this government achieves in the field of safety and the maintenance of rules and regulations. Local governments try to guarantee their citizens the highest possible safety and do everything to assure them pleasant and good living surroundings. The introduction of the administrative fine, a consequence of the safety program ‘Towards a safer society’, should enable municipalities to effectively and efficiently maintain rules and regulations. The VNG (society of Dutch municipalities) has been rallying for years now to intensify the administrative maintenance of rules and regulations, in particular the introduction of the administrative fine. Not long ago the Dutch Cabinet introduced two bills in Parliament: ‘Administrative fine nuisance in public space’ and ‘Administrative fine wrong parking and other small traffic misdemeanours’. Does this mean there is a reason for cities to cheer? That remains to be seen. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting