Better conditions for very fast blue light drivers

In the spring session of 2023, the parliament decided on SVG amendments, which will now enter into force in stages. The first package, which has now been put into force by the Federal Council, involves measures that do not require further specification at ordinance level and can be implemented without major effort, according to the statement. The following changes, among others, will come into force on October 1, 2023:

• Facilitation for Blue Light Organizations: The penal authorities must now reduce the penalty for disproportionate violations of traffic regulations by drivers of police, fire, ambulance or customs vehicles on urgent or tactically necessary official journeys. In addition, now only the difference to the speed that would have been appropriate for the operation and no longer that to the signalized maximum speed is judged. The legal minimum duration of the driver's license suspension can still always be undercut.
• Sanctioning of speeding offenses: In the future, speeding offenses will continue to be sanctioned with a minimum prison sentence of one year and a driver's license suspension of two years. However, the courts will now have more discretion to take into account the circumstances of the individual case and avoid unnecessary hardship. For example, if the offender is still blameless, the court may impose a sentence of less than one year's imprisonment. In the case of a custodial sentence of less than one year, the duration of the deprivation of liberty may be reduced anew to one year.
• Violations with a probationary driver's license: If a probationary driver's license holder commits a minor offense, the probationary period will now neither be extended nor will the driver's license be cancelled. The probationary period will only be extended by one year if the probationary driver's license is revoked for committing a moderate or serious offense. The probationary driver's license is forfeited if another medium or serious offense is committed during the probationary period.
• Holder liability for administrative fines also for legal entities: The liability of the owner now applies not only to natural persons but also to legal entities. This means that the police can also charge a company with the administrative fine if the company does not inform the police who was driving the company's vehicle at a certain time.

Source: Federal Roads Office (FEDRO)