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NOT ALLOWED All of Belgium

Can I honk and block the road in a wedding convoy?

In short

No. Driving in a convoy is allowed. But stopping traffic, honking for no reason, dangerous manoeuvres and firing shots in the air are forbidden.

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This rule in 52 seconds
Video transcript

A wedding convoy enters the junction. Horns blare, the road is blocked. Not allowed: Celebration honking, blocking the road and leaning out of windows are banned. Firing into the air is a crime. The right way: A convoy is allowed: follow the rules and move with the traffic. Outcome: Honking, blocking junction: 64 € + 10,67 €; Blocking to cause harm: 250 € – 25.000 €; Firing into the air: Criminal case, gun seized.

What is not allowed, what is required?

  • You may only use your horn to prevent an accident. Honking to celebrate is forbidden.
  • You may not block junctions or roads. A convoy may not drive through a red light.
  • Leaning out of the car, climbing out through the window or the sunroof, and travelling without a seat belt are forbidden.
  • Firing shots in the air is a serious crime and leads to a criminal case. For fireworks, municipal rules apply (in most places you need permission).

Penalty and indirect consequences

PENALTY NOTICE
Fine / payment
On-the-spot fines for traffic offences (+ 10,67 € administrative fee): honking to celebrate or blocking a junction is 1st degree, 64 €; not wearing a seat belt is 2nd degree, 128 €; driving through a red light is 3rd degree, 191 €. Deliberately blocking the road to cause harm is a level 1 crime under art. 317 of the Criminal Code: no prison. The penalty is a fine of 250 € – 25.000 € (surcharge multipliers included) or 20–120 hours of community service.

Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 317

Court / prison
Blocking the road with the intent to cause harm, in a way that makes traffic dangerous, is level 2 under art. 318: 6 months–3 years in prison or an alternative penalty. Carrying or using a weapon against the rules is a level 3 crime under the Weapons Act (3–5 years in prison); the judge can give a lighter penalty.

Legal basis:Kamer DOC 55 3518/011, art. 318 + DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36wegcode.be

What really matters: the indirect consequences

What do these terms mean?

GAS fine
An administrative fine imposed by the municipality itself. It is not a criminal sentence. The maximum is €500 for adults and €175 for minors. You can appeal within 1 month to the police court (the youth court for minors).
Criminal record
The state register of convictions handed down by a court. The extract asked for a job, residence or nationality application comes from it. Municipal GAS fines are not entered in it.
On-the-spot payment
A fixed amount offered by the police. If you pay, the case is closed and does not go to court. If not, the prosecutor takes over; the amount can rise and the case can go to court.
Police court
The court for traffic offences and appeals against GAS fines. Despite the name, it is not part of the police; an independent judge decides.

All terms: glossary →

Why does this rule exist?

At a blocked junction, an ambulance or fire engine can lose minutes. Sudden manoeuvres put pedestrians, especially children, in danger. A bullet fired in the air comes down somewhere and can kill someone. Noise at night violates the neighbours' right to rest.

Check your own situationThe right decision in trafficMake the right decision in 10 situations: a car from the right, a pedestrian crossing, an ambulance, a wedding convoy.

Where can you go?

  • Municipal driving licence serviceExchanging a foreign driving licence and other licence matters
  • Free first-line legal adviceIf you have been summoned to the police court (juridische eerstelijnsbijstand / aide juridique de première ligne)
  • Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.

This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses

Source and reliability

Official source
Source check
13 / 13 statements in an official source
Checked: 22.10.2026
Last checked
22.10.2026
Rules can change
Show the 13 checked statementsopen

The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.

General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?

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