Drug trip: 23-year-old in Rhineland-Palatinate caught twice!

Drug trip: 23-year-old in Rhineland-Palatinate caught twice!

In Rhineland-Palatinate, the Autobahn police have once again made a worrying statement: A 23-year-old driver from Kirchheimbolanden was stopped on two consecutive days without a valid driver's license and under the influence of drugs. The incidents occurred on the A6 and A61 and raise questions about safety in road traffic.

The first incident took place on Monday morning on the A6 towards Mannheim, at the Frankenthal-Nord junction. The young driver had a friend with him as a passenger, who was in possession of a valid driver's license. The following day, a Tuesday, the driver was stopped once again, this time on the A61 towards Koblenz during a check in a parking lot near Worms. Here the 32-year-old owner of the vehicle was also present with a valid driver's license, but stated that they were unable to drive a circuit. The police informed them that the vehicle would be secured if they meet the 23-year-old again.

legal consequences of drug use

The legal consequences of such a trip can be serious. According to a zero tolerance policy in road traffic, driving under the influence of drugs leads to an administrative offense and automatically brings two points in the driving suitability register. The driver's license is withdrawn from the reaching of eight points. In addition, the drug possession can be seen as an indication of limited suitability for driving, which can also lead to a license withdrawal. Owner of illegal drugs such as cocaine or cannabis risk an immediate withdrawal of your driving license and often have to provide proof of abstinence.

The increase in drug trips in Germany is alarming. There has been a constant increase in drug trips discovered since 2000. According to the data of the German Transport Safety Council, the number of registered drug drives rose from 24,700 in 2004 to around 36,882 in 2021. This development can be attributed to various factors, including changes in the law and improved training of police officers in drug detection.

increasing drug trips in Germany

The legal framework for driving under the influence of drugs has also changed significantly. In contrast to the 1990s, when journeys under the influence of drugs were only punished when the driving incapacity was proven, police officers have been able to intervene since the introduction of limit values ​​even without direct evidence of driving inability. In addition, a total of 90,863 medical-psychological examinations (MPU) were carried out in 2021, with 35 percent of the MPU being related to drugs or medication.

The dark number of undiscovered drug rides remains a worrying topic. A survey from 2011 showed, for example, that 29 percent of the students surveyed, rarely to very often under the influence of drugs, reported 27 percent that their drug use was not discovered during police controls.

The case of the 23-year-old driver not only throws a light on individual misconduct, but also reflects a major social problem. Responsibility for safety in road traffic lies in the hands of all road users.