- Legal Basis
- § 316 StGB
- Sentencing Range
- Imprisonment of up to one year or a fine
- Summary
- Operating a vehicle in public traffic while unfit to drive due to alcohol or other intoxicating substances
Drunk Driving (Section 316 German Criminal Code) – Criminal Defence Against Drunk Driving Charges
Drunk driving is one of the most frequently prosecuted offences in Germany. Tens of thousands of criminal investigations are initiated each year for driving while intoxicated. The consequences range from substantial fines and driving licence revocation to imprisonment – particularly for repeat offenders or where an accident has occurred. For expats in Germany, it is crucial to understand that the legal limits and consequences differ significantly from many other countries.
Statutory Text – Section 316 StGB
Paragraph 1: Whoever operates a vehicle in traffic while unfit to drive safely due to the consumption of alcoholic beverages or other intoxicating substances shall be punished with imprisonment of up to one year or a fine, provided the act is not subject to a penalty under Section 315a(1) no. 2 or Section 315c(1) no. 1(a).
Paragraph 2: The same penalty applies to whoever commits the act negligently.
Elements of the Offence in Detail
Operating a vehicle: This covers any vehicle within the meaning of road traffic law – motor vehicles as well as bicycles and e-scooters. The decisive factor is that the offender sets the vehicle in motion or steers it while driving. Merely sitting in a parked vehicle with the engine running is generally insufficient.
In traffic: The offence must be committed in public road traffic. This includes all publicly accessible traffic areas, including car parks and petrol stations.
Unfitness to drive: Unfitness to drive is the central element. At a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 1.1 per mille (approximately 0.11%), absolute unfitness to drive is established – no further evidence of impairment symptoms is required. At a BAC between 0.3 and 1.09 per mille, so-called relative unfitness applies; here, additional alcohol-related impairment symptoms (driving errors, physical symptoms) must be proven. For other intoxicating substances (drugs, medication), there are no absolute thresholds; unfitness must always be demonstrated through impairment symptoms.
Intent and negligence: Both intentional and negligent commission are punishable (para. 2). A person acts negligently if they could and should have recognised their own unfitness to drive.
Typical Methods of Commission
The most common scenarios involve driving after alcohol consumption during evening and night hours, so-called residual alcohol driving the morning after a night of heavy drinking, driving under the influence of cannabis, cocaine, or other controlled substances, and driving under the influence of medication with intoxicating effects. Increasingly, riding e-scooters while intoxicated is also being prosecuted, with the same BAC thresholds applying.
Sentencing Range
The penalty is imprisonment of up to one year or a fine. First-time offenders typically receive a fine of 30 to 60 daily rates. In addition, revocation of the driving licence (Section 69 StGB) is regularly imposed with a lock-out period for re-issuance of typically 6 to 12 months (significantly longer for repeat offenders). At a BAC of 1.6 per mille or above, or in cases of repeated offending, re-issuance is made conditional upon passing a Medical-Psychological Assessment (MPU).
Typical Defence Strategies
Defence in drunk driving cases frequently focuses on the admissibility of the blood sample. Procedural errors in the blood draw – such as a missing judicial order, faulty documentation, or violations of sampling guidelines – can render the BAC result inadmissible. In cases of relative unfitness, it is examined whether the identified impairment symptoms are actually attributable to alcohol consumption. The so-called post-driving consumption claim – the assertion that the accused consumed additional alcohol after driving – can also be relevant in individual cases. Furthermore, the question of negligence offers points of attack where the offender underestimated their level of intoxication. Rechtsanwalt Bafteh examines every case for procedural errors and individual defence possibilities, particularly with the aim of preventing licence revocation or shortening the lock-out period.
Typical case groups in drink-driving (§ 316 StGB)
Whether by car, bicycle or e-scooter – the blood-alcohol limits and consequences differ considerably. Besides the penalty, it is almost always about the driving licence and a possible medical-psychological assessment (MPU).
Car: absolute and relative unfitness to drive
For motor vehicles, absolute unfitness applies from 1.1 per mille. Relative unfitness can already exist from 0.3 per mille if alcohol-related signs of impairment are present. Where there is a danger, § 315c StGB applies.
E-scooter
E-scooters count legally as motor vehicles; in principle the same limits as for cars are applied. A drink-driving ride on an e-scooter can therefore lead to the withdrawal of the driving licence – including for driving a car.
Bicycle
For bicycles, the limit of absolute unfitness lies at 1.6 per mille. Even here the licensing authority may order an MPU, even though no motor vehicle was driven.
Driving licence, bar period and MPU
The withdrawal of the driving licence under §§ 69, 69a StGB and a bar period are the most far-reaching consequences. From 1.6 per mille an MPU is regularly required. Early defence can influence the bar period and questions of aptitude.
Note: This information is general and does not replace advice in an individual case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ab welcher Promillegrenze mache ich mich strafbar?
Absolute Fahruntüchtigkeit wird beim Kraftfahrzeug ab 1,1 Promille angenommen. Bereits ab 0,3 Promille kann bei Ausfallerscheinungen relative Fahruntüchtigkeit und damit Strafbarkeit nach § 316 StGB vorliegen. Darunter kommt eine Ordnungswidrigkeit (§ 24a StVG) in Betracht.
Verliere ich meinen Führerschein?
Bei Trunkenheitsfahrten droht die Entziehung der Fahrerlaubnis (§ 69 StGB) mit Sperrfrist; für die Wiedererteilung kann eine MPU verlangt werden. Wir prüfen, ob sich dies abwenden oder abmildern lässt.
Lohnt sich eine Verteidigung?
Ja. Ansätze liegen in der Verwertbarkeit der Blutprobe, in Messfehlern, in der Frage eines Nachtrunks und in der tatsächlichen Fahreigenschaft. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Erfolgsaussichten.
Muss ich zur Polizei, wenn ich als Beschuldigter vorgeladen werde?
Einer rein polizeilichen Police Summons müssen Sie als Beschuldigter nicht folgen, und Sie sind nie verpflichtet, sich zur Sache zu äußern. Einer Ladung der Staatsanwaltschaft oder des Gerichts sollten Sie folgen – schweigen dürfen Sie aber auch dort.
Sollte ich vor der Akteneinsicht aussagen?
In aller Regel nein. Ohne Kenntnis der Ermittlungsakte lässt sich nicht beurteilen, welche Beweise vorliegen. Eine Einlassung sollte erst nach Akteneinsicht und in Abstimmung mit dem Verteidiger erfolgen.
Kann ein Strafverfahren eingestellt werden?
Ja. Je nach Beweislage kommen eine Einstellung mangels hinreichenden Tatverdachts (§ 170 II StPO), wegen Geringfügigkeit (§ 153 StPO) oder gegen Auflagen (§ 153a StPO) in Betracht. Nach Akteneinsicht prüfen wir die Möglichkeiten.
Summons or accusation of Drink Driving? What matters now
Make no statement to the police at first
As an accused person you are never obliged to comment on the allegation. Anything said to the police can be used against you. Provide statements only through your defense attorney and only after reviewing the case file.
File inspection comes first
A sound defense against the allegation of Drink Driving requires knowledge of the investigation file. Only once the available evidence is clear can we decide whether a statement is advisable or whether remaining silent is the better strategy.
Possible discontinuation of proceedings
Not every case ends in a main hearing. Depending on the evidence and any prior record, the proceedings may be discontinued for lack of sufficient suspicion (§ 170 II StPO), for triviality (§ 153 StPO) or subject to conditions (§ 153a StPO). Often a penalty order without a public trial can be achieved.
Victim-offender mediation and restitution
In many cases, victim-offender mediation or making good the damage (§ 46a StGB) can significantly reduce the sentence or enable a discontinuation. Whether this is advisable in your case is something we assess based on the file.
What we do after reviewing the file
We examine the evidence for reliability and admissibility, look for procedural errors, develop the defense strategy, negotiate with the public prosecutor on a discontinuation and represent you, if necessary, in the main hearing before the District Court or Regional Court of Bonn.
Available 24/7: +49 228 504 463 36
This information does not replace a review of the individual case. In criminal proceedings, the defence strategy depends substantially on the case file, the specific allegation and the evidence.
Why BAFTEH Strafverteidigung?
- Direct contact with your defense attorney – no intermediaries
- Available around the clock, including nights and weekends
- Fast file inspection and a clear defense strategy
- Focused exclusively on criminal law
- Defense in Bonn, Cologne and the entire region
Written by attorney Philip Bafteh, criminal defense lawyer in Bonn. Philip Bafteh publishes regularly on criminal and commercial law and defends accused persons in investigative and trial proceedings.
More about the attorney →Last updated: Juni 2026
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