Police Address Late-Night Car Meet at Lanaken Industrial Park

Lanaken (Eurotoday): A big group of car lovers in Lanaken caught the police’s attention late at night. Mayor Marino Keulen called it a “cat-and-mouse game” as drivers tried to avoid the police. By 11:30 PM, they were heading to Germany. Most drivers came from Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, enjoying drifting, which is illegal on the streets.

Late at night on 28 December, a large group of car lovers in Lanaken‘s industrial park got the attention of the police. The police learned about the event because people talked about it online and hinted they might move to another place. Local police, along with some from nearby areas and federal police, quickly got involved to keep watch. A police spokesperson said they were ready to follow the group and stop any illegal activities. Mayor Marino Keulen called it a “cat-and-mouse game,” since the drivers were trying to avoid the police while still having their gathering.

What happened  During the illegal drifting incident in Lanaken?

The group of car fans first met at an industrial area but left when they saw a lot of police. The police thought they were not going home but might gather somewhere else. Officers watched the group closely to figure out where they would go next. By 11:30 PM, Mayor Keulen found out that they were heading toward Germany, which worried the authorities. 

According to the driver at the drift event in Smeermaas, there wasn’t much they could do. He explained that drifting is the main goal, ideally on a circuit at high speeds, but finding a track is tough. Instead, they drift in open spaces, which doesn’t bother anyone, though street drifting is illegal. After hearing that the police were alerted, he and other drivers quickly left the area. By 10:15 PM, all vehicles had left Lanaken, with most drivers coming from Germany, along with some from the Netherlands and Belgium.