For some enthusiasts, vehicle tuning is a lifelong passion. While tuning itself is legal, the modifications made to these vehicles often do not comply with the law. The Luxembourg police have observed a significant increase in illegal tuning gatherings.
These meet-ups, which typically occur in large public squares during the evenings, rarely go unnoticed. Local residents frequently complain about the noise, and the phenomenon of these gatherings is indeed growing, according to André Schaack, Commissioner-in-Chief of the National Traffic and Road Safety Service.
Schaack reported that in 2020, there were ten such events, compared to 31 in 2023. So far in 2024, 31 incidents have already been reported.
The ease and speed of organising these events through modern communication tools contribute to their rise. In many instances, the organisers are not from Luxembourg but from neighbouring countries such as Germany, France, and Belgium. There have even been cases of participants travelling from England to join these gatherings.
In recent years, these tuning events have taken place in various locations across Luxembourg, including Kockelscheuer, Contern, Ettelbruck, Echternach, and the Grund neighbourhood of Luxembourg City.
The police have observed numerous offences at these events, including noise disturbances, violations of the Highway Code, dangerous driving manoeuvres, and vehicles that fail to meet technical standards, potentially compromising traffic safety. Participants in these gatherings risk facing substantial fines.
According to Schaack, fines related to these events start at €24 or €49 but can escalate to €250, along with potential points deducted from the driver’s licence. While these are typically minor offences, Schaack notes that the costs can quickly add up if multiple violations are observed.
Luxembourg’s Highway Code was recently amended to make it easier to seize vehicles in certain cases. Police have also begun enforcing penalties for modifications that violate environmental regulations. Additionally, some officers have undergone specialised training to better identify illegal tuning practices. The police emphasise their commitment to cracking down on illegal tuning, pointing to large-scale operations such as the one in Kockelscheuer, where broke up a meeting of around 300 people.
In another recent operation, police conducted a major tuning check in Luxembourg City, where several suspicious vehicles were pulled over and inspected.
As far as the gatherings are concerned, the police are working with relevant parties to redesign popular meeting spots. Measures such as installing speed bumps are being implemented to force drivers to slow down.
