Why have the Schedule of Fines and Penalty Points Regulations been changed?

The changes of the Schedule of Fines and Penalty Points Regulations are a consequence of the extension of the procedure for issuing cautions in the context of the reform of the Central Register of Traffic Offenders and the penalty points system. The statutory regulations governing the reform of the Central Register of Traffic Offenders also entered into force on 1 May 2014.

What new provisions have been introduced with the changes?

1. Adaptation to the new thresholds for on-the-spot fines and the issuing of penalty points

The threshold for on-the-spot fines has been raised from 35 euros to 55 euros, and the threshold for recording penalty points on the Register of Driver Fitness has been raised from 40 euros to 60 euros. As a consequence, several standard rates for fines have been adapted to the new limits. These corresponding rates and offences are listed below. If no adjustment had been made, the rates – as a result of the reform of the Central Register of Traffic Offenders – would have ranged below the new threshold for the issuing of penalty points of 60 euros. In order to be able to register the offences also in the future, the standard rates have been raised from 40 euros to 60 euros. As regards qualifying offences (such as obstructing or endangering other road users), the rates have been raised from 50 euros to 60, 65 or 70 euros:

• Mandatory use of winter tyres (no. 5a BKat) - from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Exceeding the speed limit with dangerous goods vehicles (no. 11.2.2 BKat) - from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Obstructing emergency vehicles by parking at blind spots (no. 51b.3 BKat) - from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Obstructing emergency vehicles by stopping or parking at fire brigade access roads in contravention of the ban (no. 53.1 BKat) - from 50 euros to 65 euros
• Improper marking of a vehicle that has broken down (no. 66 BKat) - from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Incorrect lighting in case of rain, fog or snowfall (no. 76 BKat) - from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Unlawful conduct near school buses (nos. 92.1, 93, 95.1 BKat) - from 40 euros to 60 euros; if other road users are endangered (nos. 92.2, 95.2 BKat) from 50 euros to 70 euros
• Child restraint offences – as appropriate, from 40 euros to 60 euros (no. 99.1 BKat) or from 50 euros to 70 euros (no. 99.2 BKat)
• Infringement of the obligations regarding the securing of loads or the carriage of passengers (nos. 102.1, 102.2.1, 201 BKat) – from 50 euros to 60 euros
• Unacceptable vehicle height exceeding 4.20 m (no. 104 BKat) – from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Excessive use of the road (no. 116 BKat) – from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Creating obstacles to traffic (no. 123 BKat) – from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Non-observance of a police officer's hand-sign or stop call (no. 129 BKat) – from 50 euros to 70 euros
• Red light running by a pedal cyclist (old no.: 132 BKat; new no. 132a BKat) – from 45 euros to 60 euros
• Failing to give way or stop at a red traffic light and endangering other road users (no. 150 BKat) – from 50 euros to 70 euros
• Endangering pedestrians in a pedestrianised area– as appropriate, from 40 euros to 60 euros (nos. 151.1, 157.3 BKat) or from 50 euros to 70 euros (no. 151.2 BKat)
• Making a U-turn in a tunnel in contravention of the ban (no. 159b BKat) – from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Infringements of public traffic prohibitions (no. 164 BKat) – from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Violations of conditions imposed – as appropriate, from 40 euros to 60 euros (no. 166 BKat) or from 50 euros to 70 euros (no. 233 BKat)
• Driving without registration (no. 175 BKat) – from 50 euros to 70 euros
• Exceeding the date of the obligatory roadworthiness test by more than 4 months (nos. 186.1.3, 186.2.3 BKat) – from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Disregarding the prohibition to operate a motor vehicle – as appropriate, from 40 euros to 60 euros (no. 187a BKat) or from 50 euros to 70 euros (no. 253 BKat)
• Infringement of the regulations governing the dimensions of motor vehicles or motor vehicle combinations (no. 192 BKat) – from 50 euros to 60 euros
• Non-compliance with cornering characteristics (no. 195 BKat) – from 50 euros to 60 euros
• Using tyres other than those required (no. 212 BKat) – from 50 euros to 60 euros
• Non-compliance with the regulations for vertical loads (no. 217 BKat) – from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Using mobile phones (no. 246.1 BKat) – from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Unaccompanied driving at 17 years (no. 251a BKat) – from 50 euros to 70 euros

2. Compensation for dropped penalty points

The objective of the new driver fitness assessment system is to improve road safety. Therefore, offences which do not have a direct impact on road safety will no longer be registered. For this reason, minor traffic offences which are not considered relevant to road safety were no longer included in the new Register of Driver Fitness from 1 May 2014 on. However, when the fine for some of these offences was calculated, it had been assumed that offenders would also be subject to the issuance of penalty points. Now that these points are no longer issued, a compensation, i.e. a recalculation of the fines, was necessary. This compensation, inter alia, needed to take account of the economic advantage offenders draw from their offence. Against this background, the fines have been raised as follows:

• Ban on driving on Sundays and public holidays – for drivers from 75 euros to 120 euros (no. 119 BKat), for keepers from 380 euros to 570 euros (no. 120 BKat)
• Holiday Traffic Regulations – for drivers from 40 euros to 60 euros (no. 239 BKat), for keepers from 100 euros to 150 euros (no. 240 BKat)
• Driving in a low emissions zone in contravention of the ban (no. 153 BKat) – from 40 euros to 80 euros
• Missing registration plates (no. 179a BKat) – from 40 euros to 60 euros
• Covering registration plates with glass, foil or similar materials (no. 179b BKat) – from 50 euros to 65 euros
• Breach of the obligation to keep a logbook of trips (no. 190 BKat) – from 50 euros to 100 euros

3. Failure to keep a safe distance

Regarding the failure to keep a safe distance, a distinction is now made between three speed categories (nos. 12.5, 12.6, 12.7 BKat). The standard rates for fines and the standard periods for a suspension of the driving licence are not affected by this reorganisation. However, it is now possible to distinguish between failures to keep a safe distance that result in a suspension of the driving licence for a standard period and failures not resulting in such suspension by the serial number of the Schedule of Fines and Penalty Points Regulations.

Extract from the Schedule of Fines and Penalty Points

The following extract from the Schedule of Fines and Penalty points is intended as a service for interested road users. It provides information on offences that are likely to cause serious accidents and the legal consequences of these offences, such as

• on-the-spot fines,
• other fines,
• points on the Register of Driver Fitness in Flensburg and
• suspension of driving licence.

This is not an official text. We cannot guarantee its correctness or completeness. Nor can we accept any liability for any damage arising from the use of the information provided by this website.

All road users are obliged to ensure that they do not obstruct, inconvenience or even endanger or harm other road users.

You can find a detailed overview of the Schedule of Fines and Penalty Points plus further information on the website of the Federal Motor Transport Authority.

Alphabetic index of the extract from the Schedule of Fines and Penalty Points

• Distance
• Keeping to the right
• Motorways and motor roads
• Overtaking
• Red traffic light
• Right of way
• Speed

Distance

Table: Failure to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front (in metres at a speed of over 80 kilometres per hour (kph))

Offence Distance from the vehicle in front was less than	Euros	Points	Suspension of driving licence [months]
5/10 of half the speedometer reading	75	1
4/10 of half the speedometer reading	100	1
3/10 of half the speedometer reading	160	1
2/10 of half the speedometer reading	240	1
1/10 of half the speedometer reading	320	1

Table: Failure to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front (in metres at a speed of over 100 kilometres per hour (kph))

Offence Distance from the vehicle in front was less than	Euros	Points	Suspension of driving licence [months]
5/10 of half the speedometer reading	75	1
4/10 of half the speedometer reading	100	1
3/10 of half the speedometer reading	160	2	1
2/10 of half the speedometer reading	240	2	2
1/10 of half the speedometer reading	320	2	3

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Table: Failure to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front (in metres at a speed of over 130 kilometres per hour (kph))

Offence Distance from the vehicle in front was less than	Euros	Points	Suspension of driving licence [months]
5/10 of half the speedometer reading	100	1
4/10 of half the speedometer reading	180	1
3/10 of half the speedometer reading	240	2	1
2/10 of half the speedometer reading	320	2	2
1/10 of half the speedometer reading	400	2	3

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Motorways and motor roads

Table: Penalties for the most important motorway and motor road offences

Offence	Euros	Points	Suspension of driving licence [months]
Making a U-turn, reversing or driving against the traffic flow on a slip road	75	1
Making a U-turn, reversing or driving against the traffic flow on a collector or distributor lane or on the hard shoulder	130	1
Making a U-turn, reversing or driving against the traffic flow on the main carriageway	200	2	1
Using the hard shoulder to overtake other vehicles	75	1
Parking a vehicle on a motorway or motor road	70	1

The penalty for making a U-turn, reversing or driving against the traffic flow on motorways or motor roads in gross violation of traffic regulations and in a reckless manner, or attempting to do so, is 3 points on the Register of Driver Fitness, imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine plus withdrawal of the offender's driving licence if such behaviour could injure or kill another person or cause harm to a third party's property of considerable value.

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Speed

Table of penalties for speeding offences

Offence	Euros	Points
Driving at an excessive, inappropriate speed despite the fact that a danger spot is indicated, where the driver's view is restricted, at intersections, junctions, level crossings or in poor visibility or bad weather (e.g. fog or ice)	100	1

Speed limits

Table: Penalties for speeding in built-up areas (passenger cars, other motor vehicles with a maximum permissible weight not exceeding 3.5 tonnes)

Speed limit exceeded by [kph]	Euros	Points	Suspension of driving licence [months]
Up to 10	15
11 to 15	25
16 to 20	35
21 to 25	80	1
26 to 30	100	1
31 to 40	160	2	1
41 to 50	200	2	1
51 to 60	280	2	2
61 to 70	480	2	3
Over 70	680	2	3

Table: Penalties for speeding outside built-up areas (passenger cars, other motor vehicles with a maximum permissible weight not exceeding 3.5 tonnes)

Speed limit exceeded by [kph]	Euros	Points	Suspension of driving licence [months]
Up to 10	10
11 to 15	20
16 to 20	30
21 to 25	70	1
26 to 30	80	1
31 to 40	120	1
41 to 50	160	2	1
51 to 60	240	2	1
61 to 70	440	2	2
Over 70	600	2	3

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Keeping to the right

Table: Failure to keep to the right

Offence	Euros	Points
Failure to keep to the right when there is oncoming traffic, when being overtaken, at the brow of a hill, on bends or when the driver's view is restricted, thereby endangering other road users	80	1
Failure to keep to the right on motorways or motor roads, thereby endangering other road users	80	1

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Traffic lights

Table: Traffic light offences

Offence	Euros	Points	Suspension of driving licence [months]
Failure to stop at a red traffic light	90	1
Failure to stop a red traffic light, thereby endangering other road users or damaging property	200 240	2 2	1 1
Failure to stop at a traffic light that has been showing "red" for more than 1 second	200	2	1
Failure to stop at a traffic light that has been showing "red" for more than 1 second, thereby endangering other road users or damaging property	320 360	2 2	1 1

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Overtaking

Table: Penalties for unlawful overtaking

Offence	Euros	Points	Suspension of driving licence [months]
Overtaking on the right within built-up areas	30
Overtaking on the right within built-up areas - and causing damage to property	35
Overtaking on the right outside built-up areas	100	1
Overtaking at a speed that is not considerably higher than the vehicle being overtaken	80	1
Overtaking despite being unable to see that, for the entire duration of the overtaking manoeuvre, oncoming traffic will not be obstructed, or overtaking in an unclear traffic situation	100	1
Overtaking despite being unable to see that, for the entire duration of the overtaking manoeuvre, oncoming traffic will not be obstructed, or overtaking in an unclear traffic situation, and in doing so failing to obey traffic signs (signs 276, 277), or crossing or straddling a line delimiting traffic lanes (signs 295, 296) or failing to follow the direction indicated by arrows (sign 297)	150	1
Overtaking despite being unable to see that, for the entire duration of the overtaking manoeuvre, oncoming traffic will not be obstructed, or overtaking in an unclear traffic situation, and in doing so
endangering other road users or	250	2	1
damaging property	300	2	1
Overtaking while driving a vehicle with a maximum permissible weight of 7.5 tonnes or more although visibility is less than 50 metres due to fog, snow or rain	120	1
Overtaking while driving a vehicle with a maximum permissible weight of 7.5 tonnes or more although visibility is less than 50 metres due to fog, snow or rain, and in doing so endangering other road users or damaging property	200 240	2 2	1 1
Pulling out to overtake and in doing so, endangering traffic approaching from behind	80	1

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Right of way

Table : Penalties for right-of-way-violations

Offence	Euros	Points
Failure to reduce speed when approaching a priority road	10
Failure to give way, thereby considerably obstructing a driver or rider who has right of way	25
Failure to give way, thereby endangering a driver or rider who has right of way	100	1
Failure to give way to traffic on the main carriageway when joining a motorway or motor road	75	1
Failure to obey a stop sign, thereby endangering another road user	70	1

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