Comparison of National Security Rules for Transport
Parities and distinctions, specialties of particular countries
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Germany
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Austria
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Czech Republic
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The highest permitted speed km/hour (municipality – outside a municipality – motorway)
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50 - 100 – no limit (with recommended speed being 130)
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50 - 100 – 130 (fine up to EUR 2180, poss. withdrawal of a driving licence for 2 weeks in case of exceeding speed limit by at least 40km/h in town or by at least 50km/h outside town)
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50 - 90 - 130
(penalty up to CZK 10,000, record in the point system ) |
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Alcohol
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max. blood alcohol limit is 0.5 per ml (fine EUR 500 – 1,500 )
with regard to drivers below 21 years of age or older drivers who have been in possession of a driving licence for a period shorter than 4 years, there is no blood alcohol tolerance or tolerance of driving in possession of an alcoholic drink (fine of EUR 250) |
max. blood alcohol limit is 0.5 per ml (fine EUR 300 – 5,813); certain categories of drivers have blood alcohol limit at 0.1 per ml (drivers holding a driving licence “on trial”, drivers of small motorcycles under the age of 20 years, bus drivers and drivers of trucks with weight exceeding 7.5 tons)
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Zero blood alcohol tolerance (if treated as a minor offence - fine of CZK 10,000 -50,000 and prohibition to drive a motor vehicle; if treated as a criminal offence – a record in the point system)
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Drugs – for more information see below
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Prohibition of driving under the influence of narcotic substances (fine as high as EUR 500 – 1,500)
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Prohibition of driving under the influence of narcotic substances
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Prohibition of driving under the influence of narcotic substances (fine of CZK 10,000 -50,000 and prohibition of driving; if treated as a criminal offence – a record in the point system)
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Duty to use safety belts when driving
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YES – this duty applies generally both to drivers and other passengers (fine - EUR 30); includes the duty to use child car safety seats
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YES - this duty applies generally both to drivers and other passengers; includes the duty to use child car seats
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YES- this duty applies generally both to drivers and other passengers; includes the duty to use child car seats (fine up to CZK 2,500; record in the point system)
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Duty to have lights on at all times of the day and night
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NO
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NO
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YES – for the whole year round (fine up to CZK 2,500; record in the point system)
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Telephoning when driving
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Prohibition to hold a phone in hand or by any other manner when driving (fine of EUR 40); it applies also when you stop the car but an engine is still running; telephoning using a hands-free set is permitted
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Prohibition to hold a phone in hand or by any other manner when driving (fine of EUR 50 when paying in cash or EUR 72 when paying by pay slips); telephoning using a hands-free set is permitted
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Prohibition to hold a phone or any other communication or recording device in hand or by any other manner when driving (fine of CZK 1,500 - 2,500, record in the point system); telephoning using a hands-free set is permitted
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Paid motorways
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NO
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YES
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YES
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Transported items
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Prohibition to transport jack knives with one-handed opening mechanism or knives having a solid blade longer than 12 cm (for more information see below)
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Other special features
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Checks whether drivers respect safe distance between motor vehicles travelling one behind another.
Prohibition to use radar-detectors Obligatory environmental badges in some cities (green zones – see below)
Obligatory winter or year-long tyres in case of snow, ice or slops on roads (40 EUR fine, poss. double amount should you cause an accident or a traffic jam)
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Checks of manner and mechanisms used for pulling trailers
Checks of technical eligibility or “roadworthiness” of motor vehicles (applies mainly to trucks), by technical testing means Winter tyres are obligatory between Nov. 1st and Apr. 15th regardless of the weather conditions. (35 EUR basic fine, if you cause an accident- up to 5,000 EUR) |
Prohibition to use radar-detectors – it is forbidden to use active radar jammers that can be used against laser speedometers
Checks of duty stamps on alcohol and cigarettes Winter tyres are obligatory between Nov. 1st and Mar. 31st in case of snow, ice or slops on roads. (Fines are up to 2,000 CZK.)
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Obligatory equipment – for more information see below
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Advance warning triangle
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Reflective vest,; first aid kit (it is recommended to comply with the Austrian rules under V 5102, though not legally obligatory; bandage suitable for emergency treatment and packed in a dustproof package is obligatory part of a first aid kit)
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reflective vest, first aid kit (including isothermic foil under Decree No. 283/2009 Coll.); spare bulbs and tools for their exchange; advance warning triangle, a spare tyre (in some cases it can be replaced by a special set enabling repair of a respective tyre); hand jack (heaver) ; a spanner for wheel nuts (screws); a spare fuse (motorcycles, three-wheelers); an extinguisher (buses).
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Obligatory equipment
The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic applicable since 1968 provides that compulsory car equipment should be specified by the country where the motor vehicle in question is registered. When driving across any signatory country (including the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany) the police of the relevant country should not assess the car equipment pursuant to national legal regulations.
However, practice is different. Particularly in Austria checks focus on obligatory equipment specified by Austrian laws – a missing reflecting vestis frequently subject to fines.. The duty to put on a reflective vest applies when a driver exits the motor vehicle on motorways and roads because of a road accident, leaves the vehicle in order to install the alarm triangle or is outside the vehicle for any other reasons while being on a highway or motorway. The location of a reflecting vest is not specified by the law. The obligation to have a reflecting vest applies only to a driver (§ 102 par 10 Kraftfahrgesetz –KFG)
Transport of knives in Germany
Under Section 42 and No. 2 of the Act on Firearms (came into effect on1 April 2008) it has been forbidden to import jack knives (pocket knives) with one-handed opening mechanism and knives with a solid blade longer than 12 cm. Pursuant to paragraph 2 of the said legal provision such prohibition does not apply when a knife is transported in a locked container (e.g. a locked suitcase) or if such import is in justified interest. Justified interest can be applied to objects/goods transported for pursuit of a profession, in relation to traditions or sports contests or otherwise serve a generally recognised purpose.
The following knives are illegal to import:
- knives with a blade vertical to the handle, butterfly knives (balisongs), and gravity knives;
- switchblade knives with the exception of side-opening switchblade knives, the blade of which
- is not longer than 8.5 cm;
- is at least 20% as wide as it is long,
- is not sharpened on both sides of the blade (i.e., only one cutting edge);
- has a continuous back which comes to a point towards the blade.
Drugs
Possession of drugs is punishable in all three countries, which applies also to the possession for personal use. According to Czech law applied since 1 January 2010, possession of small amount of drugs has not been qualified as a crime, but solely as an offence. Based on the experience gained so far, especially German checks are often aimed at controlling illegal transportation of drugs or other narcotic substances. Following the entry into force of the new Czech Criminal Code, Austrian police have announced more thorough checks carried out along Czech border and focusing on drugs.
In the Czech Republic, new rules have been applied on possessing drugs since 1 January 2010. By the amendment of the Criminal Code and related regulations (Act on Minor Offences and government resolutions), changes have become effective concerning assessment of criminal liability for illegal treatment of drugs. Unauthorized possession of drugs for personal use remains illegal and always punishable: according to the Act on Minor Offences in case of a small amount and according to the Criminal Code in case of the amount exceeding the small amount. One of the biggest changes concerns the amount exceeding the small amount, which is newly defined by the government resolution and no longer by an internal regulation. For example in case of marijuana, the amount exceeding the small amount equals to more than 15 grams of dried marijuana, in case of hashish to more than 5 grams.
Unauthorized possession of small amount of any drug for personal use may be punished in the framework of the offence proceedings with a fine up to 15 000 CZK (approx. 550 EUR) in compliance with the Act on Minor Offences.
In Germany any possession of drugs, including a small amount for personal use, is punishable and can be sanctioned under the Criminal Code. However, there are differences in practice as regards an approach towards individual cases depending, inter alia, on the amount of drug in person’s possession. If a small amount of a drug is detected a public prosecutor can decide not to impose a sanction. Perception of a small amount differs according to individual states (Länder). As regards Bavaria and Saxony, the upper limit is 6 grams.
Under the ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court prohibition of disproportionate sanctions applies. According to this ruling the possession of cannabis should not result in prosecution if the following conditions are satisfied: personal consumption, a small amount, occasional use, and no harm to other persons.
In Austria any possession of drugs, including a small amount for personal use, is punishable and can be sanctioned under the Criminal Code. Public prosecutors can, at their relative discretion, decide whether to punish possession of a small amount of drugs for personal consumption. Conditional sentences are usually applied. A small amount is 2 grams.
Entertaining pyrotechnics
All three countries apply prohibition to transport uncertified entertaining pyrotechnics.
In particular Germany applies very strict rules dividing pyrotechnics into four categories, of which only those selected pyrotechnics falling into the first category ( Klasse I) can be purchased and used by anyone without any further restrictions regarding age or time or without any special authorisation. (For example, pyrotechnics falling under category II, which covers the vast majority of traditionally used rockets, can be used only on New Year’s Eve while a permit is required for any other occasions).
Alcohol and tobacco
There are a number of restrictions applicable in the EU for transporting alcohol and tobacco for personal consumption. When travelling between the Czech Republic, Germany and Austria the following limits apply:
Tobacco products Alcoholic beverages
800 cigarettes 110 litres of beer
400 cigarillos and cigars whose weight (one piece) is less than 3 grams 10 litres of spirits
200 cigars (other weights) 20 litres of alcoholised wine (for example port wine or sherry )
1 kilo of tobacco for smoking 90 litres of wine (of which a maximum 60 litres is sparkling wine)
Mineral oils
Mineral oils can be transported at the amount delivered in usual barrels, increased by 20 litres.
Five pressure vessels of liquid oil gas with full weight capacity of up to 40 kilos are permitted.
Coffee (only for Germany)
10 kilos of coffee
Driving a rented car
If you are not the owner of a motor vehicle you are driving, police officers abroad can demand a certificate proving that the owner lent/rented you the motor vehicle for your journey.
Other rules
If the registration plate on your motor vehicle is not furnished with a blue EU stripe it is necessary to display the identification sign of the registering country on your motor vehicle. If visibility is reduced due to bad weather during daylight hours to under 50 metres, the maximum permitted speed limit on German motorways is 50 km/H
If you do not pay a fine for a road traffic offence a police officer may seize, on-the-spot, any item of corresponding value, including your motor vehicle.
Environmental badges obligatory in green zones in Germany
Green zones have been established in some German cities, through which only vehicles with environmental badges may pass - otherwise a penalty of 40 EUR and penalty points impend. Environmental badges are obligatory for all vehicles, including those registered in foreign countries.
Currently, environmental green zones exist in Berlin, Cologne, Hannover, one part of Dortmund (Brackeler Strasse) and in 8 cities in Baden-Württemberg: Ilsfeld, Leonberg, Ludwigsburg, Mannheim, Mühlacker, Reutlingen, Schwäbisch-Gmünd, Stuttgart and Tübingen.
For more information see here.