Canton of Zug, 09.06.2020

Car-posers make life difficult for the police

There is no actual ‘tuning scene’ here. But the police still carry out checks on drivers who make their engines scream at the traffic lights.

For one joy, for others annoyance: while the drivers of tuned cars are enthusiastic about roaring and screaming engines, local residents are not so pleased when the growling turns into a scream as the accelerator pedal is pressed down hard. This can be read again and again in readers’ letters. Not every car tuner stands out through their misconduct, however. Those who do are known as ‘car-posers’ because they want to stand out.

The phenomenon of car-posing – showing off through your car – also occurs in the canton of Zug, as the Zug police confirmed on request. In mid-May, for example, a female motorist was stopped on Baarerstrasse. "The 24-year-old made her  car's engine roar several times unnecessarily before a traffic light," said the police statement at the time (we reported). Not only that, she also accelerated so heavily when driving off that the high engine speed created "unnecessary noise". A motorcyclist was also arrested for the same type of misconduct on the same evening. "The Zug police do not accept such behaviour, which is why we have carried out appropriate checks in recent weeks," says Frank Kleiner, media manager, when asked how to deal with car-posers in the canton of Zug. Several drivers were stopped and charged during these checks, which will be continued in the future.

Posing, giving gas and driving off with squealing tyres is not just an urban or rural phenomenon, but affects the entire canton, according to Kleiner. Hotspots don't seem to exist. "We keep getting valuable information from the population about where car-posers are driving around," says Kleiner. Checks are then carried out accordingly on the basis of such notifications and the findings of the police.

This work brings challenges, however, says Kleiner. "It's not always easy, because these drivers know the limits of legality very well, and often only show off briefly and then move away," he explains. In order to be able to make a charge, the Zug police have to witness the "unnecessary noise nuisance" on the spot. In addition to the filing of a criminal charge, the driver's licence may be revoked for such misconduct. Vehicles that have been illegally tuned – technically modified to make them more efficient, for example – can be confiscated. The cantonal police in Aargau, for example, recently called on politicians to introduce a upper engine-power limit for new drivers between the ages of 18 and 21. Would that also be an option in the canton of Zug? That’s a matter for the legislature, emphasizes Kleiner. But: "We find that many young drivers find it difficult to handle high-powered engines." There is often a lack of experience and the necessary driving skills, as well as a lack of understanding of driving dynamics.

Not every form of "tuning" is illegal
In cooperation with the Road Traffic Authority, the Zug Police also take action against illegal tuning. The most common offences are non-standard vehicle parts or the unauthorised darkening of tail lights, retro-reflectors or fog lights. These are sprayed or glued so that they glow less strongly. There is also the removal of silencers to make the cars louder.

In certain sporty cars, such as the BMW M6 or Porsche 911, a flap exhaust is installed as standard. The flap on the exhaust can be opened at the touch of a button – the sound is then much louder and more throaty. The use of this function on Swiss roads is not permitted, however, but it may be used on racetracks.
Not every retrospective tuning is illegal. In the canton of Zug, for example, garages offer legal performance enhancements, such as chip tuning – which, among other things, allows for higher torque or more powerful acceleration. "But we don't know of a tuning scene like those in some other cantons," explains Frank Kleiner.