Overview
- The Fifth Amendment to the Road Traffic Act was published in the Federal Law Gazette and takes effect on July 1, 2026.
- The prosecution limitation for traffic administrative offenses is doubled from three to six months under the new §26(3) StVG so authorities have more time to process cases.
- A new §4c StVG makes it illegal to deceive authorities about who committed an offense and to offer or mediate such deception, while a reworded §23 StVG allows fines of up to €30,000 for violations.
- The law also creates legal bases for automated parking-enforcement vehicles known as Scancars and for a digital driving licence, though technical rules and administrative systems still must be built.
- Drivers should note that procedural steps like sending an inquiry letter still interrupt time limits and that organisations such as ADAC and ACE have welcomed the measure as a way to protect the Flensburg points system.