Previously the fine for this offense was 20 euros. Now the bracket starts at 200 euros and in extreme cases the culprit may end in jail.
German transport minister Alexander Dobrindt announced last year that the penalties for blocking emergency corridors will be harsher. The website of the Federal Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure informs about the rule changes.
Police and emergency services still have problems during interventions. It’s an irresponsible behaviour (ed.: in relation to not creating an emergency corridor) and it may be life threatening. Therefore, the increase of penalties will be even higher than originally planned. Those who intentionally block the emergency corridor and thus prevent the emergency services during an intervention may go to prison for up to 1 year” – said Dobrindt.
So far the fine was only 20 euro for not making an emergency corridor. Right now the regulations provide for fines of 200 to 320 euro depending on the consequences of the offense:
For only not making the corridor the fine in Germany amounts to 200 euro and 2 penalty points.
Not making a corridor which leads to blocking an emergency services vehicle amounts to 240 euro penalty, 2 penalty points and ban from driving for a period of 1 month.
Not making an emergency corridor which is health or life-threatening of, for example a firefighter or the injured party, can lead to a penalty of 280 euros, 2 penalty points and ban from driving for a period of 1 month.
Not making an emergency corridor which leads to property damage can lead to a penalty of 320 euros, 2 penalty points and ban from driving for a period of 1 month.
Potential criminal consequences of non-compliance with the regulations remain unchanged. Intentional obstruction of assistance to injured persons is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year (§ 323c of the German Criminal Code – StGB). From 30 May 2017 this provision in the StGB also includes blocking the emergency corridor.
The new amounts of fines are not yet included in the official fine catalogue (Bußgeldkatalog). According to “Die Welt” Bundesrat will adopt new rules at its next meeting on Sept. 22.
Consent of the Council of Ministers is not necessary because the stricter fines for blocking the emergency corridor are introduced my a ministerial decree.
Photo: OSP Gliwice
