Speeders or parking offenders have to pay significantly more thanks to the new catalog of fines. (Symbolic image) © Marijan Murat/dpa
Municipalities in Germany make millions with traffic offenders. One reason: the recent tightening of fines for speeders and parking offenders.
Berlin – 53 million euros – that's how much money 22 German cities are said to have earned with traffic offenders in the first half of 2022. This is suggested by an evaluation by the Traffic Law Working Group of the German Bar Association, which is available to Die Welt. Compared to the same period last year, revenues were twice as high.
Catalogue of fines: speeders and parking offenders have to pay
One reason for this is not only that there were more cars on the road again last year after the Corona pandemic subsided. At the end of 2021, the new catalogue of fines was also introduced. Since then, speeders or parking offenders have had to pay significantly more.
For example, if you drive more than ten kilometers per hour too fast in built-up areas, you will now pay at least 50 euros instead of the previous 25 euros. If you drive more than 30 kilometers per hour too fast, you have to shell out at least 260 euros. Out of town, speeders are also asked to pay more.
Illegal parking has also become painfully expensive: Instead of 15 euros, traffic offenders have to pay 55 euros for parking their vehicle without permission. Incidentally, this also includes the unauthorized use of disabled, electric car and car-sharing parking spaces. Anyone who blocks cycle paths or footpaths or parks in the second row will be fined up to 110 euros.
Speeding and illegal parking are the most common traffic offences
It is no wonder that this has made the coffers of the municipalities ring more and more since then: lawns and illegal parking are among the most common traffic offenses of Germans. According to the Federal Motor Transport Authority, violations of speed limits are punished millions of times a year.
In Kiel, for example, revenues rose to 2022.6 million euros in 583 due to the higher fines in connection with mobile speed cameras and fixed lightning columns, compared to only 2021.3 million euros in 63.
