In brief

A regulatory offence is not a crime: no penalty, no entry in the Federal Central Criminal Register. The consequences can still be noticeable, particularly in traffic with points and driving bans. The fine notice can be challenged by objection within two weeks.

Section 1 OWiG defines a regulatory offence as an unlawful and culpable act that the law threatens with an administrative fine. Under Section 17 OWiG the fine is at least five and, unless provided otherwise, at most 1,000 euros. For traffic offences Section 24 StVG allows up to 2,000 euros, and for alcohol and drugs Section 24a StVG up to 3,000 euros. For minor violations a warning fine of up to 55 euros may be imposed instead (Section 56 OWiG).

The administrative authority is responsible first, in Bonn traffic matters the city’s fines office. It issues a fine notice. An objection is possible within two weeks of service (Section 67 OWiG). The authority then reviews the case and passes it through the prosecutor to the local court.

When an objection is worthwhile

When a driving ban threatens, when points in the driving aptitude register would take the account to six or seven, or when the measurement is doubtful. With standardised measuring methods accuracy is presumed at first. In 2020, however, the Federal Constitutional Court held that those affected may demand access to information outside the file, such as raw measurement data. This can reveal errors that would otherwise remain invisible.

An appeal against a local court judgment is only available to a limited extent, essentially for fines above 250 euros or where a driving ban was imposed (Section 79 OWiG), otherwise only with leave (Section 80 OWiG).

The boundary with criminal law

The same journey can be a regulatory offence or a crime. At 0.5 per mille without signs of impairment it is a regulatory offence under Section 24a StVG; at 1.1 per mille, or with signs of impairment from as little as 0.3 per mille, it is a criminal offence under Section 316 StGB. Anyone who receives a written questionnaire about a regulatory offence should therefore say nothing about the substance here either until it is clear what the authority actually alleges. Limitation in traffic law is short, by the way: three months until the fine notice.

General explanation, not advice on an individual case. As of November 2026.