Share your needs with us, get contacted by law firms.
Free. Takes 2 min.
Drunk driving in Kitzingen is governed by German federal traffic and criminal laws that apply throughout Bavaria. Local police and prosecutors in Kitzingen enforce these rules on the ground, and the local court handles cases that arise in the district. Germany distinguishes between administrative offenses and criminal offenses based on your blood alcohol concentration and whether there is impairment or danger to others. Penalties can include fines, points in the national driving record, driving bans or license revocation, and in serious cases imprisonment. Because procedures can move quickly and the consequences can be long lasting, early legal advice is important.
You may need a lawyer if you were stopped at a roadside check near Kitzingen and asked to take a breath test. A lawyer can advise you about your rights, including what you must do and what you can decline. If your test results show 0.5 per mille or higher, or if officers believe you were impaired, you risk fines, points, and a driving ban or revocation, which a lawyer can help mitigate.
If you were involved in an accident while having consumed alcohol, the matter can quickly become a criminal case. A lawyer can protect you during police questioning, challenge evidence such as the reliability of a breath or blood test, and negotiate with the prosecutor.
If you received a penalty notice or a criminal order in the mail, you have short deadlines to object, typically 14 days from service. A lawyer can assess whether to accept the outcome or file an objection and request a court hearing.
If your license is at risk of revocation or you may face a Medical-Psychological Assessment, a lawyer can guide you through the process with the driver licensing authority and help you prepare the documentation needed to regain your driving privileges.
If you hold a foreign license, are a professional driver, or rely on your car for work or family, tailored legal strategy is essential to reduce disruption and protect your livelihood.
Blood alcohol limits. For most drivers of motor vehicles, 0.5 per mille is the threshold for an administrative offense even without signs of impairment. At 0.3 per mille with noticeable impairment or an accident, a criminal offense may be assumed. At 1.1 per mille or higher, the law generally presumes absolute incapacity to drive a motor vehicle, which is a criminal offense even without visible impairment. Cyclists face criminal consequences from 1.6 per mille. E-scooters are treated like motor vehicles.
Novice and young drivers. Drivers under 21 or in the probationary period have a zero alcohol limit in traffic. A violation is a serious offense that usually leads to fines, points, extension of the probationary period, and a mandatory training seminar.
Typical penalties. An administrative offense for 0.5 to 1.09 per mille without impairment commonly results in a fine, 2 points in the Flensburg register, and a driving ban of 1 to 3 months depending on prior history. A criminal offense under driving under the influence can lead to a fine calculated by daily rates based on income or imprisonment up to one year, 3 points, and license revocation with a blocking period before reapplying. Endangering traffic safety with alcohol can carry higher penalties.
Medical-Psychological Assessment. The licensing authority often orders an MPU after high blood alcohol levels such as 1.6 per mille or higher, repeated alcohol offenses, or alcohol-related criminal conduct. Passing the MPU is frequently required before getting your license back.
Procedure during a stop. Preliminary breath tests on the roadside are typically voluntary. If there is concrete suspicion of drunk driving, police can arrange an evidential test, usually a blood sample at a clinic. Refusal of a preliminary breath test does not prevent a blood sample from being taken when justified.
Records and points. Offenses are recorded at the national driving aptitude register in Flensburg. Administrative drunk driving offenses usually carry 2 points and expire after several years. Criminal offenses with license revocation usually carry 3 points and remain longer.
Local institutions. In Kitzingen, the local police handle roadside checks, the public prosecutor in Würzburg typically leads criminal proceedings, and cases are often heard at the local district court. The driver licensing office at the Kitzingen district authority decides on license measures, while the national authority in Flensburg maintains points.
For motor vehicles, 0.5 per mille is the administrative limit even without impairment. From 0.3 per mille with noticeable impairment or an accident, criminal liability may apply. From 1.1 per mille, the law presumes absolute incapacity to drive a motor vehicle, which is a criminal offense. Cyclists face criminal sanctions from 1.6 per mille. E-scooters are treated like motor vehicles.
Yes. Under 21 and drivers in the probationary period must have zero alcohol in traffic. Violations usually trigger a fine, points, extension of the probationary period, and a special training seminar. Additional sanctions may apply if impairment or danger is present.
Preliminary roadside breath tests are generally voluntary. However, if police have concrete suspicion of drunk driving, they can arrange an evidential test, usually a compulsory blood sample. Refusing a preliminary test does not prevent a blood draw and may lead to further investigative steps.
For a first administrative offense at 0.5 to 1.09 per mille without impairment, a driving ban of about one month is common. Criminal offenses often lead to license revocation with a blocking period to reapply, often several months or longer. Repeated offenses and high alcohol levels increase the loss period and can trigger an MPU requirement.
Administrative cases typically result in a significant fine, 2 points, and a short driving ban. Criminal cases can bring higher fines calculated based on your income or imprisonment, 3 points, and license revocation. If others were endangered or injured, penalties increase further and insurance consequences are more severe.
An MPU is often ordered after 1.6 per mille or higher, repeated alcohol offenses, or where there are doubts about fitness to drive. You must prepare documents, possibly demonstrate abstinence with tests, and pass interviews. Failing to comply usually prevents reinstatement of your license.
Administrative drunk driving offenses usually add 2 points that generally expire after several years if no new serious offenses are added. Criminal drunk driving offenses usually add 3 points that remain longer. Exact retention periods depend on the type of offense and are set by federal rules for the driving aptitude register.
German authorities can impose a driving ban or prohibit you from driving in Germany even if your license was issued abroad. In criminal cases, your license can be seized and sent to the issuing country or a notation is made that you are not allowed to drive in Germany during the blocking period. If you live in Germany, license revocation and reissuance rules apply through the local authority.
Administrative offenses do not appear on the basic criminal record certificate. Criminal convictions can appear depending on the sentence and prior record. Fines below certain thresholds might not show on a basic certificate, but all convictions are stored in official registers accessible to authorities. A lawyer can advise on disclosure and rehabilitation timelines.
You typically have 14 days from service to file an objection. Whether to object depends on the evidence, the measured alcohol level, procedural issues, and your personal circumstances. A lawyer can review the files, check device calibration and sampling procedures, and advise whether negotiation or a court hearing is likely to produce a better outcome.
Kitzingen District Authority driver licensing office for questions about license bans, revocation, and MPU requirements.
Police Inspectorate Kitzingen for information about local traffic controls and the process after a stop.
Public Prosecutor’s Office Würzburg for criminal proceedings in the Kitzingen area.
District Court Kitzingen for hearings on objections to penalty notices and criminal orders.
Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, Fahreignungsregister in Flensburg for points and driver fitness records.
Recognized MPU assessment providers and preparatory counselors such as TÜV or DEKRA branches for evaluation and preparation courses.
Automobile clubs and consumer advice centers that provide neutral information on traffic law and insurance consequences.
Local Bar Association for referrals to attorneys with a focus on traffic and criminal law.
Legal aid services via the local court for Beratungshilfe and Prozesskostenhilfe where financial assistance is needed.
Write down what happened as soon as possible, including where you were stopped, what tests were requested, what you said, and any witnesses. Keep all documents you received from police or by mail.
Do not miss deadlines. If you received a penalty notice or criminal order, note the 14 day objection period from the date of service. Seek legal advice quickly so your lawyer can request the file and act within time limits.
Use your right to remain silent about the allegation until you have spoken with a lawyer. You must provide identification and vehicle documents, but you do not have to answer incriminating questions.
Consult a local lawyer with experience in drunk driving cases in Kitzingen. Ask about strategy, chances of reducing penalties, and costs under the German fee schedule. If your job depends on your license, discuss applications for a ban deferral or ways to protect your ability to work where possible.
If license measures are likely, contact the driver licensing office early to understand requirements. If you may need an MPU, begin preparation and, if necessary, abstinence documentation as soon as possible, since proof often requires several months.
Review your insurance policy and notify your insurer in line with contractual duties. Discuss with your lawyer how to avoid jeopardizing coverage and how to handle any claims or recourse demands.
Stay proactive, meet all appointments, and follow professional guidance. Timely and informed action in Kitzingen can significantly affect outcomes in a drunk driving case.
