Authorities want to take Regensburg's driver's license away after 40 years - but she fights back
Created: 05/16/2022, 20:32
By: Thomas Eldersch
Anna Schweizer fought against bureaucratic mills for her driver's license.
© Screenshot BR across
A woman from Regensburg got caught up in the mills of bureaucracy.
In the meantime, she actually only wanted to exchange her driver's license, but the city is opposed.
Regensburg – Actually, Anna Schweitzer just wanted to exchange her old driving license for the newer EU model, as most Germans have to do.
But this simple routine process turned out to be a gauntlet run for the Regensburger.
The authorities opposed her and did not want to give her a new driver's license.
Schweitzer didn't let that sit.
BR “across”: Regensburger should suddenly submit expert opinions
Anna Schweitzer enjoys her life.
You can see that immediately in the contribution to the “quer” broadcast by Bayerischer Rundfunk (BR) last Thursday (May 12).
The driver's license helps her to live out her freedom.
The Regensburger has been paralyzed from spasticity since birth, but has no mental disabilities.
And she has been driving accident-free for 40 years.
One of her hobbies are day trips: "To Nuremberg, to Munich, just go for a stroll through the city, visit people." But the beloved pastime could now be over.
When Schweitzer wants to exchange her driver's license, the shock.
The driver's license office does not want to issue her the new cloth.
Since she has to meet certain conditions due to her illness - for example, she is only allowed to drive an automatic car - she is sent to the TÜV.
Pure formality?
no way.
She was asked to produce a medical report to prove that she was of sound mind and body.
But that's not all.
She should also take a driving test and a traffic medical report, it is said in "quer".
However, her illness had neither changed nor worsened.
(By the way: Our brand new Regensburg newsletter will keep you regularly informed about all the important stories from the World Heritage city and the Upper Palatinate. Register here.)
BR “across”: TÜV and the city of Regensburg pass each other balls when exchanging driver’s licenses
Actually an absurdity.
Because the guidelines for exchanging a driver's license state:
Exchanging the driver's license is a purely administrative matter - the driver's license itself remains unchanged.
Additional medical examinations or other tests such as repeating the driving test are not associated with this.
Government website
Nevertheless, Anna Schweitzer is supposed to provide numerous proofs.
A good friend of the Regensburger, Walter Erlweil, sums it up in "quer" as follows: "I was partly angry because there is someone here who is really blameless and someone because of the way he is, that's Ms. Schweitzer, that's why they're in such trouble is brought.”
And it gets even thicker.
When Schweitzer presented himself to the TÜV, an employee had thought about her fitness to drive, which he also informed the city of Regensburg.
The BR even had the internal mail:
“Well, Mrs. Schweitzer… I met her and then I was surprised that she drives a 'normal' automatic car. She can hardly move her legs. Mrs. Schweitzer says she drives regularly?! But I can't imagine that. [...]"
These deadlines apply when exchanging a driver's license (video)
BR "across": City of Regensburg rows back - but the fight goes on
Anna Schweitzer has no choice.
She goes to the doctor.
This confirms that her condition has not deteriorated in the past 40 years.
But the city doesn't give in.
Furthermore, the Regensburg woman should take a driving test and a traffic medical report.
Legally, the city is on the safe side, says lawyer Philipp Schulz-Merkel.
But she also had a leeway.
He explains that the submission of the medical report means that there is no longer any reason for pursuing this "hard road".
Attorney Philipp Schulz-Merkel classifies the case legally.
© Screenshot BR across
The driver's license authority must have realized that, because Anna Schweitzer received a letter from the city while BR was still shooting in Regensburg.
They want to let the procedure rest now and wait for a driving and operating test by the TÜV.
In turn, he says that the only suggestion was to adapt the Regensburger's car.
However, that would cost a lot of money and Schweitzer is afraid that TÜV might end up changing its mind.
"I'll fight until it's no longer possible," announces Schweitzer on BR.
"For them, the driver's license means enjoying life," summarizes "quer".
(phone)
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