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Police stop daredevil motorcycle racers: driving licenses gone!
Illegal motorcycle races in Cologne-Lindenthal: Police stop four drivers after speeding and drug checks.
Police stop daredevil motorcycle racers: driving licenses gone!
An explosive situation occurred on Thursday evening, June 19th, in Cologne. At the Venloer Strasse intersection on the Military Ring, four motorcyclists aged 25 to 26 years old gathered to hold illegal races. With loud engines and rapid speeds, they decided to take off under the green light and reached speeds of over 180 km/h - well above the maximum permitted speed of 70 km/h. The police became aware and stopped the dangerous activity at a red light near Dürener Straße. The drivers' licenses and motorcycles were seized in order to prevent further risks, as ksta.de reports.
During the checks it turned out that two of the 25-year-old drivers tested positive for cannabis, which is why a blood test was ordered. Such incidents are not new in North Rhine-Westphalia and have led to a worrying increase in illegal racing in recent years. In 2017, penalties for such violations were increased. According to § 315d StGB, participation in unauthorized motor vehicle races is a criminal offense and can be punished with up to two years in prison. Serious injuries or deaths even result in penalties of up to ten years, reports the NRW Police.
Police zero-tolerance strategy
The Cologne police have a clear zero-tolerance strategy to combat such dangerous activities. Regular focus checks are intended to uncover violations of technical and behavioral regulations. This measure goes hand in hand with an extensive campaign by the city of Cologne aimed at discouraging young people from lawns. These include, among other things, billboards throughout the city and video spots with popular YouTubers under the motto "I'm cool! #I don't like it".
As the police emphasize, illegal car races not only increase the risk for the participants themselves, but also for innocent road users. Tragic incidents, such as the recent one in Ludwigsburg, where two uninvolved women died in a suspected car race, show how serious the situation is. In such cases, those responsible not only face prison sentences, but also claims for reimbursement from insurance companies in the event of damage, as n-tv reports.
Cologne's transport policy and jurisprudence are determined to fight against reckless speeders. Both participating in illegal races and organizing such activities can result in severe penalties. Cologne citizens are urged to be vigilant and report such illegal activities to ensure safety for all road users. As it turns out, there is a clear approach in Cologne to make the streets safer.