Drunk Dad with Driving Ban Picks Up Kids from Belgian School in Puurs
A heavily intoxicated father who was already under an active driving ban and had been declared medically unfit to drive for life was caught by police in Puurs, Belgium, after picking up his three minor children from school. The incident, which occurred on Monday, May 18, 2026, has raised serious concerns about child safety and the enforcement of driving bans in the country.
Neighborhood police officers from Politiezone Rivierenland recognized the driver during routine school supervision in Puurs, a municipality in the Antwerp province. According to VRT NWS, the officers knew the man had been issued a driving ban the previous year and decided to conduct a traffic stop.
The Stop and Discovery
When officers approached the vehicle, they immediately detected a strong smell of alcohol. A traffic unit was called in to conduct a breathalyzer test, which revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 2.39 promille — nearly five times Belgium’s legal limit of 0.5 promille and equivalent to approximately 13 glasses of beer.
“Fortunately, we don’t encounter such a combination of violations often,” said Dirk Van de Sande, spokesperson for Politiezone Rivierenland, as reported by Radio Reflex. “On Monday, our neighborhood officers in Puurs saw someone driving whom they knew already had a driving ban. During the check, they immediately smelled alcohol.”
The situation escalated further when police discovered that the man had his three minor children in the car — children he had just picked up from school moments before the stop.
Multiple Violations
The driver’s offenses extended well beyond drunk driving. Police found that the man had not only been issued a driving ban the previous year but had also been declared medically unfit to drive for life (“levenslang medisch ongeschikt”). Despite both restrictions, he was behind the wheel.
“At that moment, he was also driving around with his 3 minor children. He had just picked them up from school,” Van de Sande added.
By order of the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office, the vehicle was seized. Multiple official reports were filed, including one for a “verontrustende opvoedingssituatie” (concerning parenting situation), which triggers involvement from child welfare authorities.
Legal Consequences and Broader Concerns
The man must now appear before the police court (politierechter), where he faces charges including:
- Driving under the influence with an extremely high blood alcohol level
- Driving while under an active court-issued driving ban
- Driving despite being declared medically unfit for life
- Potential child endangerment and neglect charges
According to MSN/TCE, a police spokesperson confirmed that “an undeniable smell of alcohol was detected on the man, so a traffic team was called in for support.”
Enforcement Gaps Under Scrutiny
This case highlights significant gaps in how driving bans and medical unfitness declarations are enforced in Belgium. Despite having an active driving ban, a lifetime medical unfitness declaration, and a known profile to local police, the individual was still able to drive and collect his children from school.
The incident raises pressing questions about monitoring systems for banned drivers, how individuals with lifetime medical unfitness declarations retain access to vehicles, and whether current enforcement mechanisms are adequate to prevent such dangerous situations.
Child Protection Implications
The additional report for a concerning parenting situation means child welfare authorities may become involved with the family. Driving under the influence with children in the vehicle represents extreme endangerment, and the case underscores the importance of robust child protection protocols when parents engage in such reckless behavior.
What’s Next
The driver is scheduled to appear before the police court, where a judge will determine penalties. The case may also prompt broader discussions in Belgium about improving enforcement of driving bans and medical unfitness declarations to prevent similar incidents in the future.