Overview
- German traffic code §23(1c) prohibits operating or carrying ready-to-use devices or apps that indicate or disrupt speed enforcement.
- Standard penalty for carrying an operational radar detector or blitzer app is €75 plus one Flensburg point.
- A 2023 Karlsruhe appellate ruling held that a passenger’s blitzer app benefiting the driver is unlawful, with the driver fined €100 in the case.
- ADAC says operational status includes devices in a pocket or glovebox, while sealed retail packaging is not; police can secure dedicated units, though seizing smartphones or sat-navs is harder.
- Rules abroad differ widely, with far higher penalties reported in countries such as France, Switzerland and Greece, including fines from about €1,500 and possible driving bans.