The Pitfalls of the Law

Hair test can trigger lifelong “branding”

Anyone who gets behind the wheel while intoxicated must rightly expect to face the full force of the law. However, once blood alcohol levels reach a certain threshold, the law strikes hard in different ways across the federal states by mandating a hair analysis. This test has its pitfalls, stemming from the unpredictability of the authorities and, in the worst case, a lifelong “stigma.”

The breathalyzer beeps; the reading on the display shows more than 0.8 milligrams. That translates to more than 1.6 per mille. If this limit is exceeded, the driver faces the most severe penalties: The driver’s license is suspended for at least six months, the fine ranges from 1,600 to 5,900 euros, followed by an appointment with the medical examiner, a traffic psychology assessment, and a retraining course. The catch: Some federal states (see below) also impose, at their own discretion, a hair test that’s no walk in the park.