New catalog of fines: Are speeding fines in Germany now more expensive than in Austria and Switzerland?
The new catalog of fines in Germany divides road users: some say the penalties are too severe - others say they are just right. The tougher consequences for speeding are particularly controversial. Does this mean that Germany now has the harshest penalties for speeding offenders in the German-speaking world?
In sunny weather, car enthusiasts polish their vintage and classic cars for joyrides through the countryside. However, anyone who presses too hard on the accelerator pedal when taking their car out for a spin may be in for a nasty surprise in Germany since April 28, 2020. This is because the revised catalog of fines for road traffic has been in force since the spring. Drivers now face losing their driving license more quickly if they fail to comply with the speed limit. If you are speeding at 21 km/h in urban areas and are flashed , you must surrender your driver's license for one month. Out of town, driving bans are imposed from 26 km/h too fast on the speedometer.
In addition, the fines for speeding up to 21 km/h have doubled - up to 70 euros are payable. A country trip in a classic car can therefore quickly become very expensive if you speed on German country roads. Points in Flensburg are already awarded for speeding of at least 16 km/h - this is also new.
Austria: Fines of up to 218 euros and minor driving bans
Does the stricter catalog of fines mean that drivers in Germany now face the harshest penalties for speeding ? The penalties for speeding offenders in Austria are at least usually less severe. As a rule, a fine of 72 to 218 euros is due. The highest fine in Germany, on the other hand, is 680 euros if you are caught speeding at over 70 km/h in urban areas. You will also be banned from driving for three months.
While drivers in Germany can find out the exact amount of the fine in advance, the Austrian authorities have a certain amount of leeway in determining the consequences. Over 40 km/h within a built-up area, for example, can cost from 150 euros in Austria. Up to 20 km/h too much, the penalty is 30 euros if you are stopped immediately by the police (the so-called organ mandate) and between 29 and 60 euros if a fine notice is issued (the so-called anonymous order).
A temporary driving ban is also possible in Austria: a driving ban is imposed if the driver is driving at least 40 km/h too fast in urban areas or over 50 km/h outside urban areas. However, the driving ban only lasts two weeks - in Germany at least one month.
Switzerland: Low fines, but charges possible
Speeding through Switzerland at an illegally high speed can be far more expensive. The fines here start at just under 40 euros (40 CHF) - if you drive one to five km/h too fast in urban areas or on country roads and are flashed. From 16 km/h too much on the speedometer within a town, the driver will even be charged. Outside built-up areas, the speed limit is 21 km/h, and 25 km/h on Swiss highways. The highest fine in Switzerland is just under 245 euros (260 CHF) for speeding between 21 and 25 km/h too fast on the highway.
Just as in neighboring German-speaking countries, the Swiss authorities can impose a driving ban. As in Germany, driving licenses are revoked for one month if the speed limit is exceeded by 21 km/h or more within a town or city. At 25 km/h or more within a town, the driving ban is at least three months. For speeding violations of at least 25 km/h in urban areas, 30 km/h outside urban areas and 35 km/h on freeways, the driver also receives an entry in the Swiss criminal record. The fine is then also dependent on income.
Swiss traffic law does not take a joke on repeat offenders and particularly serious speeding offenses. The driver's license can then even be revoked indefinitely. In addition, fitness to drive can be psychologically tested - as is also the case in Germany: here, the competent authority can order a medical-psychological examination (MPU) - popularly known as an "idiot test".
Conclusion: Where are the penalties for speeding offenses most severe?
In comparison with other German-speaking countries, the more severe penalties in Germany tend to be in the middle range. The fines and driving bans for speeding offenses in Austria are usually lower than in neighboring Germany. On the other hand, Austrian authorities can impose a fine at their discretion in the case of an anonymous order - within a specified framework. In Germany, on the other hand, speeding offenders can look up the penalty they can expect in advance.
Switzerland imposes the harshest penalties on speeding drivers. The highest Swiss fine of around 245 euros is far lower than the 680 euros that can be imposed in Germany. However, the consequences of being reported and entered in the Swiss criminal register are far more devastating than in Germany and Austria. The driving ban can also be longer - especially for repeat offenders: A driver's license withdrawal for an indefinite period is possible. Classic car drivers who take joyrides in Switzerland should therefore be particularly careful.
German transport minister plans to revise the catalog of fines again
After the revised catalog of fines came into force, German Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer admitted that the stricter consequences for speeding violations were too harsh. The stricter driving bans were "disproportionate", according to his transport ministry. Scheuer announced that he wanted to withdraw details in the catalog of fines. However, this is not easy: the Federal Council - consisting of representatives from all 16 federal states - must agree to this. This process could take until fall 2020. Until then, the harsher penalties will continue to apply for the time being.
About the von Rüden law firm:
Have you been flashed in Germany and do not agree with the penalty imposed? Or do you have further questions about traffic law? Feel free to contact the von Rüden law firm. The consumer law firm stands up for drivers and examines the possibility of an appeal against the fine. The first consultation on your case is free of charge. Write an e-mail, call 030 / 200 590 770 or use the contact form.
