From April 1, cannabis can be legally consumed in Germany. Police and politicians are therefore concerned and expect an increase in the number of accidents under the influence of drugs. At the same time they announced strict controls.
A decision by the German traffic light, as the federal government consisting of the SPD, FDP and the Greens is called, will have consequences for Upper Austria. “The legalization of cannabis initiated in Germany worries us in Upper Austria. With the release of the drug, the aura of danger is removed. At the same time, the availability of medicines in the neighboring country also increases accessibility for our compatriots,” says landlord Thomas Stelzer.
How is it controlled? On-site inspection
The ÖVP politician met with officials from the Schärding District Police Command on Tuesday to learn more about the measures in the Innviertel. The police plan to set up a close network of checks to get drug drivers out of circulation. Up to 14,000 vehicles cross the border from Bavaria to Austria every day on the Innkreis motorway (A8).
13 border crossings from Bavaria to Austria
Schärdinger police chief Matthias Osterkorn has announced strict checks at all thirteen border crossings with Germany; mobile units will also carry out random checks, as well as regular and flexible checks at intervals.
Special police unit from Linz helps in the Innviertel
For this reason, the police operations unit, centrally based in Linz, will be moved to the border area for checks. Osterkorn about the “OÖ-Krone”: “We assume that consumption will increase. As an additional measure, police will conduct criminal and traffic checks and closely monitor cross-border consumption.”
The number of drug drivers caught has tripled
The governor assumes an increase in the number of drug drivers and accidents under the influence of drugs – which would also be confirmed by a comparison of figures: from 2017 to 2023, the number of caught drug drivers in Upper Austria more than tripled from 420 to 1,500. Moreover, in 2022, exactly 34 people were injured in drug-related accidents.
Stelzer: “I would like to thank the police for the intensive traffic control. The number of arrests reflects the successful work of our police officers.” After the decision in the Federal Republic of Germany, Stelzer also appealed to the government in Vienna: “Germany must not become the pacesetter of European drug policy. We see that the federal government is being called upon to defend Austria’s strict anti-drug policy.”
Source: Krone
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