Logbook: Traffic violations can lead to a duty
Created: 01/10/2023, 09:30 am
By: Simon Mones
If a traffic violation cannot be clarified, owners often have to keep a logbook.
The tax office can also require this for company cars.
If you are driving your car, you usually just get in and drive off.
But it's not always that easy, because there are cases in which drivers have to note their journeys in a logbook.
There can be various reasons for this obligation.
For example, when the identity of the driver is not clear after a traffic violation.
In this case, the owner can be obliged by the authorities to take a log book with him.
He also has a duty to cooperate and must support the fines authority in identifying the driver.
In certain cases, a logbook may be mandatory.
© blickwinkel/Imago
Logbook: Traffic violations can lead to a duty
The condition comes into question when it comes to serious traffic violations - for example, those where there are points in Flensburg.
It is necessary that "despite sufficient investigations" the driver cannot be identified.
The owner has the already mentioned obligation to cooperate with the authorities.
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Section 31a StVZO regulates which journeys must be recorded.
There it says in Paragraph 2: "The vehicle owner or his representative has in the logbook for a specific vehicle and for each individual journey." The following data must be recorded:
First name, surname and address of the respective vehicle driver
licence plate of the vehicle
Start and end of the trip, stating the date and time
Driver's signature
Drivers also make sure that the logbook is kept correctly - even if they lend their car to friends or family.
Otherwise, a fine of over 100 euros can be imposed.
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Logbook: Mandatory also applies to company cars
In addition, a logbook can also be mandatory if self-employed entrepreneurs also use their company car for private purposes.
The reason: the company car offers tax advantages, but these are only intended for commercial purposes.
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In the case of one-person companies in particular, the tax office suspects private use from the outset.
Accordingly, in many cases the keeping of a logbook is required until this assumption is confirmed or refuted.
This no longer has to be done by hand, but can also be done digitally using a smartphone app.
However, this requires the approval of the tax office.
(With material from the dpa)