Renery on Berlin's streets: Politics are considering harder to take action against the racer and car rental company

Renery on Berlin's streets: Politics are considering harder to take action against the racer and car rental company

The frenzy on the streets of Berlin is an increasing problem and is a serious danger. In the first half of 2023, around 430 procedures for frenzy have already been initiated, and it can be expected that the numbers could exceed the record year 2020 with its 871 cases. The development is partially attributed to the fact that the police are more controlled and more determined.

Andreas Winkelmann, senior attorney and head of a special department for forbidden motor vehicle races in Berlin, confirms this trend. He explains that the police are more and more active and intervene more energetically. The domestic policy spokesman for the Berlin CDU, Burkard Dregger, also welcomes increased controls and emphasizes that the frenzy within the city is a worrying problem.

Since a change in the law in 2017, a total of around 3,900 procedures for prohibited motor vehicle races have been initiated, of which 1,653 cases have been completed and 1,026 legally binding decisions are available. In most cases, fines were imposed, but prison terms are also not uncommon.

In order to minimize the risk, many speeders rent their vehicles, especially striking, expensive and powerful models. If they are caught, it usually remains a punishment for the driver, while the cars go back to the landlord. This has caused the CDU internal politician Dregger to call for increased control of the car rental companies, since many of them were only founded for the purpose of using racers. However, it is still unclear which legal basis such controls should take place and whether a legal regulation is required.

Overall, the current figures clearly show that the frenzy in Berlin is a growing problem that politics wants to deal with with harder measures. An increased police check and stronger monitoring of the car rental companies could be possible approaches. However, the final decisions are still pending.