We stopped off the autobahn to gas up and grab a snack and take some pictures of Wurzburg from the rest stop.
When we were walking back to the parked car, i saw a police car drive by my car very slowly. I knew something was up. He drove around twice and then eventually parked on the other side of the parking lot. I knew he was going to stop me. Sure enough, as soon as i back out and start to drive away, he whips around the corner and flashes his lights to pull me over.
He spoke fluent english and informed me he pulled me over for a "standard traffic stop" He checked my papers, passport, US Drivers license and the asked me to turn off the car and get out. He asked me where we were driving from, where and when we were dropping off the car. Then gave me back my paperwork and told me to enjoy the rest of my trip and "you have a very nice car there"
Very strange he pulled me over just to do that. I assume he just wanted to check the paper work (or maybe see the car closer) but at least he was friendly and spoke english.
My wife was able to snap a picture as they were getting back into the police car. Hopefully the first and last time i get pulled over!
I got pulled over just outside of Munich...had to follow a motorcycle cop for like 4 exits, and was greeted by about 15 Polizei at the next rest area. Turns out they were running a training exercise, and my Zoll plates made me a perfect candidate. They spent about 30 mins inspecting my papers and vehicle (mainly to show the trainees how to do things). Must say, the pucker factor was high during that little stop.
The police in Germany can and will do routine traffic stops. A Zoll number sticks out more and its a brand new car so my assumption is they were looking for stolen cars. Used to be a big issue many years ago but is not so bad anymore.
I think the Police checked you because we have a lot of trouble with stolen premium cars. There are some Bulgarian, Russian and other Gangs they steal the cars and drive them directly out of the country. Most of the cars (Audi, BMW, MB and Porsche) go over the border to Poland and then further to Ukraine and other Russian countries.
Getting stopped by the Polizei should be a mandatory Bimmerfest European Delivery experience anyway. Adds another great story to your adventures in Europe, and I came away from my experience being pretty impressed by the professionalism during the encounter.
Out of my 6 EDs I have been stopped 3 times. Two of those just to check my papers but last year I had a ridiculous experience. I was stopped in Germany by two undercover officers in a BMW 318 sports wagon. They asked for my passport and driver's license, at first I thought it was a speeding violation but I was told that they wanted to see my luggage. They instructed me to open my suitcase and the officer asked me if a had a green shirt in my luggage. After not finding anything I was told that they needed to ID my wife and I and I needed to follow them to the police station. I followed them and we were scored inside the police station having to seat on a bench with handcuff attached to them. We were never handcuffed but after waiting a while one of the officers came out with a print out from a security camera showing a tall male and a female behind him inside a bank. The officer told us that they were looking for that couple and which by the way didn't resemble the physical appearance of my wife and I. I asked the officer about our profile of two US citizens in a brand new car with tourist plates fit the description of two criminals and I've got no answer. I wonder if they had the authority to search my vehicle without probable cause but I did not ask any questions about that. The experience was totally a waste of time.
Interesting thread! Makes me second guess having a beer with lunch on our upcoming trip... although I'm sure I'd be fine after one, I really don't need the hassle of a roadside check.
Frustrating that they can pull you over for no reason, but it's pretty much the same in the US. They just follow you long enough until you make a minor traffic offense. Just a matter of time.
Obviously this is the exception to the rule.. but lest anyone think German/European police are any worse than here in the states...
I'm glad the German guys had a chuckle after he walked off. As much as he was a jerk, notice he let them off for going 98 in a 70.... as seen in other threads that would have cost an American a large ticket or worse for being 45KPH over a limit anywhere in Europe.
That's funny. I've lived in Germany for almost 10 years. I've been actually pulled over. Twice, 1 for speeding... Badly and the other was for fog lights on in the city. I've been "flashed" countless times. Lol I got flashed in my f30 the day after delivery fir 6km over. I was pissed!
I'm 2/2 getting pulled over during my ED. :bigpimp:
1st time I had just put gas and was in a residential area driving the speed limit when I saw one turn and was behind me for a bit. I knew once he was following me he was going to pull me over and just like that he did.
He asked for my paper work of the car, also gave him my passport, international DL and he went back to his car. He returned and asked me to pop my hood, he checked the VIN on the paperwork with the VIN on the hood. Then he let me go.
This time I got pulled over leaving Italy at a checkpoint of some sort. They slow down every car and then gesture for them to go on or go to the side, lucky me I got sent to the side.
I let the police woman know that I didn't speak italian but english or spanish. She asked where I was going and if I was on holiday. Let her know, then she asked for all the passengers documents (passports, car paper work, etc). She goes behind my car and uses her cell to call in our info, my friend heard his name being called as she looked at his passport.
During this there was a cop on the passenger side watching to make sure we didn't do anything funny. At one point the officer asked my friend "Radar?" after seeing my GoPro mounted to the windshield. We let him know it was just a video camera and he said ok.
They finally gestured me to get out of the car and open the trunk. Checked that we had luggage and gave me back all our paperwork and told us we were free to go.
I'm also convinced it's the zoll plates, plus my non-european standard color may have played a part.
I can definitely attest to this one, on my way to Prague I got stopped by undercover German police near the border. We got out to take pics of border sign. As we were getting back into the car, they approached... Thanks to the board I was calm and ready, but my girlfriend being the quick thinking New Yorker, got in the car started it up and was in drive before they got to us. Had to tell her, it was ok, just a typical day of a brand new shiny car near the eastern European border.
Not exactly pulled over but------On our 1st ED we were visiting an old Au Pair of ours who lived north of Hamburg, and her husband, who was the regional commander of the Polizei. As we had been drinking beer for most of the afternoon and into the evening with the usual amount of good food and cheer thrown in. Holger was concerned that we would not be able to find the Gasthaus where we were staying, as it was somewhat remote, yet in a residential area. He solved the problem by having one of his patrols come by the house and back into the driveway with all lights flashing on the vanagon and a bright yellow FOLLOW ME script going across the rear window. The patrol car lead us about 15 km. through a couple of small villages and into the parking lot of our hotel with all lights flashing all the way. For the next couple of days when we pulled out of the parking lot to go anywhere all the neighbors stopped to look at the car the police had led in.
During last ED my wife and I got pulled over in Switzerland on the way the Stelvio Pass. We were not even supposed to go to Switzerland, but on that day the road we were supposed to follow was closed and we had to take a detour through Switzerland where we were stopped at what looked like a border.
Policemen checked the paperwork for the car and asked us to open the trunk. Whole stop took about 10 minutes.
For some reason being a US citizen driving a brand new BMW in Europe made me feel like untouchable throughout the whole journey (nice feeling indeed).
During our first ED, we were taking back roads through Switzerland when we reached what looked like an impromtu Swiss border check just before entering Germany. I provided all of our paperwork and the officer looked puzzled. He walked around the car and then asked me questions why I had German registered car, but had a US dirivers license. I explained European Delivery to him. He then went to talk to another officer who also reviewed our paperwork and checked out the Zoll plates. The second officer wanted to know why I was sneaking into Germany. :yikes: I explained that we were on holiday and I was taking the scenic route. After that explanation, he sent us on our way.
The second officer wanted to know why I was sneaking into Germany. :yikes: I explained that we were on holiday and I was taking the scenic route. After that explanation, he sent us on our way.
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Bei einer allgemeinen Verkehrskontrolle darf die Polizei den Führer- und Fahrzeugschein sowie den Personalausweis verlangen, die vorgeschriebene Ausrüstung (Verbandkasten, Warndreieck) prüfen sowie das Auto auf seine Verkehrssicherheit untersuchen (Licht, Reifen, Ladung). Ohne einen Anfangsverdacht darf sie das Auto aber nicht durchsuchen. War jedoch ein Drogentest positiv, ist den Beamten das gestattet. Die Frage nach dem Verbandkasten dient auch dazu, sich von der Handlungsfähigkeit des Fahrers zu überzeugen sowie einen Blick in den Kofferraum werfen zu können.
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Meaning in a general traffic stop the police can ask for your drivers license, car papers and your ID (e.g. passport) and they can check that you have the needed equipment (triangle and the box with the bandages) and they can check the car if it is secure to be driven (light, tires, overloaded etc.). Without a concrete suspicion they can not search the car except if a drug test shows a positive result. The problem though is that by you showing them the triangle you usually have to open the trunc which allows them to get a quick glance into it.
If you get caught driving to fast the same as the US applies. Don't volunteer any information e.g. when they ask you why you think they stopped you (just say no idea) because they can use your answer if you admit speeding.
Alcohol test is a bit trickier. You do not need to agree to blow into the test tube or do any coordination tests. But if you refuse they can get a judge to sign on a mandatory blood test. Interesting small tidbit is that you do not need to answer honestly if they ask you if you had a beer before starting to drive. If you say yes you will raise your chance being asked for a test.
I think the question we should be asking is this, do the police in Germany need "probably cause" to stop and detain people, or do German laws allow random detentions, i.e. simply stopping you to check license status, papers, etc??
I think the question we should be asking is this, do the police in Germany need "probably cause" to stop and detain people, or do German laws allow random detentions, i.e. simply stopping you to check license status, papers, etc??
Wondering this myself, especially with the poster who mentioned they got rolled by a UC car while they were on the side of the road, I would have been thinking I was going to get carjacked if I saw two dudes roll up behind me while on the side of the road, especially in Europe...
Of course it's the Zoll plates. I'm two-for-three being stopped in Europe, and the one time I wasn't, I was pulled over in Las Vegas a couple months later by Metro because they couldn't figure out what the funny red-and-white plates were and "wanted to ask". So make it three-for-three.
First time it happened in Germany, we were on the 'Bahn from Munich to Garmisch and I was nervous because it was two guys in an unmarked unit. Felt somewhat less apprehensive when the uniforms emerged from the car - at least it wasn't going to turn into a carjacking. Was told that same evening by a retired cop at the gasthaus where we stayed that the reason is the lively black market in Zoll plates so locals can avoid paying some hefty taxes or highway use fees. That was in '04, so maybe it's different now. Biggest disappointment was not being able to show them that we had our vests right in the passenger compartment just like good, law-abiding, in-the-know volk.
At least in Italy, the cops salute when they approach the car, which is a nice touch. Italian courtesy. Since I speak Italian, the conversation went well, but admit I hesitated when asked "..so you left from Monaco, and you're going where?". Don't let it throw you if you're stopped in Italy: "Monaco" is Italian for Munich.
The short answer to the "do they have the right" question above: yeah, they do. You never watched any old movies where the first question the undercover hero gets asked is, "..papers, please.."? Same deal here. They ask - you fork 'em over. They'll ask the questions - not you. Auslander.
Of course it's the Zoll plates. I'm two-for-three being stopped in Europe, and the one time I wasn't, I was pulled over in Las Vegas a couple months later by Metro because they couldn't figure out what the funny red-and-white plates were and "wanted to ask". So make it three-for-three.
First time it happened in Germany, we were on the 'Bahn from Munich to Garmisch and I was nervous because it was two guys in an unmarked unit. Felt somewhat less apprehensive when the uniforms emerged from the car - at least it wasn't going to turn into a carjacking. Was told that same evening by a retired cop at the gasthaus where we stayed that the reason is the lively black market in Zoll plates so locals can avoid paying some hefty taxes or highway use fees. That was in '04, so maybe it's different now. Biggest disappointment was not being able to show them that we had our vests right in the passenger compartment just like good, law-abiding, in-the-know volk.
At least in Italy, the cops salute when they approach the car, which is a nice touch. Italian courtesy. Since I speak Italian, the conversation went well, but admit I hesitated when asked "..so you left from Monaco, and you're going where?". Don't let it throw you if you're stopped in Italy: "Monaco" is Italian for Munich.
The short answer to the "do they have the right" question above: yeah, they do. You never watched any old movies where the first question the undercover hero gets asked is, "..papers, please.."? Same deal here. They ask - you fork 'em over. They'll ask the questions - not you. Auslander.
I buy this explanation more than the smuggling new stolen cars into Eastern Europe. I don't doubt there is a lot of that, but why would they use a rare plate that sticks out like a zoll does. I'm guessing that just like criminals in the US they try to stay under the radar when ever they can. N4S
One followed me out of Munich for a couple miles. Another followed me around town near Lake Constance but neither stopped me. I was driving the speed limit.
Wow I'm glad I didn't read this before doing my ED last week. My schedule was extremely tight and I could not even afford a 15 minutes cop-stop on my way to the drop-off at the airport. Plus I didn't even have an international license (not that you need it but it makes things slightly easier). Some of the stories are funny though.
After numerous trips, I was finally stopped on the autobahn from Munich to Salzburg, last year. I wasn't given a reason for a stop initially, but was later informed it was a "routine Bavarian police check". I can tell you the German police are completely humorless, and really fit the German stereotype perfectly.
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