If the Federal Minister of Justice has its way, hit-and-runs could soon no longer be a criminal offence.
The advance met with a divided response.
Unfortunately, it has happened to many of you: You come back from shopping - and the parked car is damaged.
There is no sign of the culprit far and wide, and no message under the windshield wipers either.
Although the note left on the windshield would not be sufficient from a purely legal point of view, the injured party would at least have the chance to get in touch with the polluter.
From a legal point of view, such behavior is an escape from an accident.
In many cases, the victims are left with the repair costs.
It is a criminal offense that is currently punishable by up to three years in prison.
Federal Minister of Justice Marco Buschmann (FDP) now wants to change that.
Hit and run should no longer be a crime: the Minister of Justice’s initiative sparks discussions
According to Buschmann's plans, an escape from an accident without personal injury will no longer be a criminal offense, but will henceforth be considered an administrative offence, as the
dpa
reports.
Those involved in an accident are currently obliged to wait a “reasonable amount of time” at the scene of the accident.
But this is where the problems begin: Exactly how long should you wait?
What if the accident happens in the middle of the night?
Here the ministry is now bringing a possible alternative into play: setting up a registration office.
There, the person who caused the accident should then be able to use an online form to provide all information about the accident and the type of damage and also upload photos.
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Damage to the car is always annoying - especially when the person who caused it has fled the dust.
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©Panthermedia/Imago
Hit-and-run accidents should no longer be a criminal offence: it should be allowed to report damage by slip of paper
A damage report by note that is left on the vehicle (and so far not sufficient) could then be allowed.
However, reporting to the police should still be possible.
In some cases, the police even find out with the help of the technology installed in their own car, as in the case of an 18-year-old driver in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Hit and run should no longer be a criminal offence: ADAC welcomes the proposal
Opinions are currently divided about the initiative by the Federal Ministry of Justice: ADAC supports the plans.
“Anyone after a bump in parking today
leaves a note with his data will be prosecuted as a criminal," says the automobile club.
That goes past reality, which is why the traffic club and the traffic court day have been campaigning for a reform for years.
"If the simple escape from an accident can no longer be punished as a criminal offense, but only with a fine, the injured parties have no disadvantage."
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Hit and run should no longer be a crime: Bavarian police union is "very irritated"
The police union (GdP) in Bavaria, for example, sees things very differently: they are "very irritated" by the Minister of Justice's move to "play down this crime".
Politicians are at work here who have moved far away from practice, the plans go in the “completely wrong direction”, according to a statement.
"Injustice must also remain injustice and must not be played down," said GdP state chairman Peter Pytlik.
"This initiative is another crossing of a red line of proven and sensible criminal laws."
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