If you have a driver’s license, but you don’t actually have the mental maturity for it yet – the case of an 18-year-old man who was taken out of traffic by the Cologne police on Wednesday evening (February 28, 2024) could be described something like this. Criminal proceedings are now underway against him.
Overtaking maneuvers, drifts and co-drivers film everything
At around 9 p.m., the 18-year-old drove his BMW over the Deutzer Bridge into the city – according to the police, at significantly excessive speed and with several overtaking maneuvers on the right side. His friend, also 18, filmed everything with his cell phone in the passenger seat.
But that’s not all: From the Deutzer Bridge we went towards Heumarkt, where the 18-year-old with the BMW drifted across the square – this is of course forbidden.
Driver’s license confiscated, cell phone confiscated as evidence
The police apparently became aware of the case through an employee of the public order office. In front of him, the 28-year-old had made an emergency stop and came to a stop just a few meters in front of the man.
The witness called in the police, who immediately took action on the orders of the Cologne public prosecutor’s office: the driver’s license was confiscated, as was the passenger’s cell phone with the video recordings.
Driving alone can also be considered illegal racing
The case could now have serious consequences for the BMW boy: The police initiated traffic criminal proceedings against the novice driver on suspicion of a prohibited motor vehicle race.
For several years now, the offense of “prohibited motor vehicle racing” (Section 315d of the Criminal Code) no longer requires participation or organization of an actual race; driving alone can also be considered an illegal race.
According to the text of the law, anyone who “drives a motor vehicle at an unsuitable speed and in a grossly traffic-contrary and reckless manner in order to reach the highest possible speed” can be sentenced to a prison sentence of up to two years or a fine. If you are responsible for the death or serious damage to people’s health, the punishment can be up to ten years in prison.
By Thomas Werner (tw)
2024-03-01 11:15:34
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