Is Car Free Sunday illegal?

Several irregularities undermine the legality of Brussels’ annual Car Free Sunday event, prosecutor Bruno Bulthé has written in a letter to the attorney general at the court of appeal of Brussels, reports Le Soir. He argues that it is impossible for the authorities to punish drivers flouting the driving ban or exceeding the 30kph limit where applied. Furthermore, he finds the special measures in place on Car Free Sunday illegal and “disproportionate to the facts motivating them”. Official injunctions banning motorists from the road are illegal, he said. His remarks, however, were brushed off by Marc Cools, president of the Association of the City and Communes of the Brussels Region, who pointed out that only the Council of State could annul an administrative act. Cools insists that Car Free Sunday will take place as planned on September 22, 2013.