Zug,20.01.2009
Vehicles could be confiscated
After the racing incidents over the weekend, the question is raised: „why do young drivers race? And what can be done to prevent racing?
The crass racing incidents over the weekend scream for action to be taken to curb young drivers racing. The Zug police could confiscate the vehicles of racers – something which up till now has not happened. They could also increase their speed checks. Experts agree that only tough punishment will be effective against speeding.
Character analysis and driver suitability tests do not meet the approval of the experts. The expense would be high and the majority of the good drivers would be punished. In the end, the driver instructors are called upon to give the young drivers a good telling off concerning speeding. “That would just be a waste of time” says Roger Stoll, President of the Zuger Driver Instructor’s Association.
What does it cost?
Setting the punishment is the responsibility of the public prosecutors office according to internal guidelines. The seriousness of the case and the precise circumstances (road and weather conditions, traffic, alcohol, motives and speed when for example racing) as well as other factors (such as whether the driver has a previous record or has lost his driver’s license before) are considered If a driver is caught driving 108 km/h in town, first the tolerance level of four km/h is subtracted. The driver is then fined for going 54 km/h over the speed limit. In addition to losing his driver’s license for a longer period of time, the driver will also be fined for a minimum of 50 daily rates. The daily rates are dependant on the driver’s income and can vary between 30 francs and 3,000 francs. That results in a fine of between 1,500 and 150,000 francs. The court costs are also billed to the driver.
Source/Media Partner: Neue Zuger Zeitung