Teenagers aged 14 and 15 in the Brussels municipality of Ukkel can now receive administrative fines for certain public nuisance offences after a new local regulation took effect on Sunday, 1 November. The municipality has lowered the minimum age for these penalties from 16 to 14, making it one of several Brussels-area authorities to introduce the measure.
The administrative fines, known locally as GAS sanctions, are used to address offences such as graffiti, vandalism and insulting behaviour. Under the rules, minors can face a maximum fine of 175 euros. However, local authorities say the measure is intended to encourage responsibility rather than immediately punish young people financially.
Mayor Valentine Delwart said fines should be considered a last resort. The municipality prefers educational measures and alternatives that allow young people to understand the consequences of their actions. These options can include mediation, discussions involving parents and community service.
The change follows concerns about incidents involving teenagers between the ages of 14 and 16. Police officers had previously faced limitations when dealing with certain nuisance offences committed by younger residents because the existing minimum age prevented them from preparing the relevant administrative reports.
Ukkel is not the first municipality in the Brussels region to introduce a lower age threshold. Koekelberg, Sint-Agatha-Berchem and Etterbeek have already adopted similar measures. The new policy brings Ukkel closer to the approach used by several municipalities in Flanders.
The local administration has also stressed the importance of informing teenagers about their rights and responsibilities. The mayor plans to meet the youth advisory council to discuss how the regulation should be communicated and how young residents can avoid penalties.
The policy has raised questions about the balance between discipline and youth support. Supporters argue that municipalities need practical tools to address vandalism and repeated nuisance, while others may question whether fines are the most effective response for young people.
For families in Ukkel, the new regulation means that children aged 14 and 15 must be aware of the rules governing public behaviour. The municipality says educational alternatives will remain available, but the possibility of an administrative fine will now form part of the local enforcement system.
