Germany cracks down on driver insults

• Source: Global Times
• [08:34 November 11 2009]
• Comments

By Qing Mu in Berlin

Germany has introduced new regulations on its traffic laws that drivers carrying insult-ing words or actions in public would incur heavy penalties, aiming to deprive drivers of the evil practice.

The latest issue of Deutsche Automobil Club journal reported Monday that drivers, if speaking insults such as "stupid dumb," will be fined 750 euros ($1,125), and words like "dirty bastard" and "old sow," 2,500 euros ($3,748), according to the new law.

Insults on police, even indirect ones, are all subject to especially harsh punishments. For example, if drivers say "I'd like to call sir 'bastard,'" a fine of 800 euros ($1,199) is likely to ensue. But if the case is "I'd like to call you 'bastard,'" OK, just double the severity to 1,600 euros ($2,399).

Item 185 of the traffic regulations stipulates that drivers shouting rude remarks, in serious cases, should be taken into custody.

Moreover, body insults such as sticking out one's tongue, fingering at one's own head (indicating others mental disordered) are liable to fines of 150 euros ($225) and 750 euros($1,125) , respectively.

Drivers, if giving the middle finger to others while taking the wheel, face fines ranging from 600 to 4,000 euros ($900- 5,997).

Taking into consideration the fact that there are no fixed criteria in Germany and various interpretations of slang in different regions concerning the definitions of insulting words and actions, fines can also be handled with discretion.

For the Chinese version, see P5 in today's Global Times Chinese edition