The so-called point trading had long been a gray area: drivers accused of a traffic violation could use online services to find a third party willing to take the points on their own record. These individuals were usually of similar age and gender. Authorities were deceived, and the actual driver escaped punishment. An amendment to the Road Traffic Act now puts an end to this practice.
The new paragraph explicitly criminalizes deceiving an authority about the person involved in a traffic offense. Violations carry a fine of up to 30,000 euros, as ADAC reports. The German Traffic Court Conference in Goslar, a panel of traffic law experts, had already called for such a regulation in 2024. The practice, they argued, undermined the function of the driving aptitude register, which is meant to exclude conspicuous drivers from participating in road traffic.
According to ADAC, most known point traders have ceased their services since July 1. One provider writes on its website that it has withdrawn the offer “for legal reasons.” ADAC welcomed the closure of the legal loophole, saying it strengthens “the credibility of the system of points, driving bans, and fines” and makes “an important contribution to greater road safety.” Depending on the offense, one to three points are assigned in Flensburg; a driver’s license is revoked after eight points.
Source: www.spiegel.de
