Local chief has to pay

No passport with him: fine at the border

Fabio Halb didn't have his passport with him, which cost him €36.(Bild: Privat)

The police reported a mayor from the district of Jennersdorf on his way from Slovenia to Austria. He is now urging caution via Facebook. The "Krone" knows the background.

Freedom to travel without internal border controls - that was the ambitious goal of the Schengen Agreement, which is intended to apply to all citizens of EU countries. What was lauded from the outset as one of the greatest achievements of the European Union has been overshadowed by the bitter reality.

Stopped by the police
Fabio Halb, mayor of Mühlgraben in the district of Jennersdorf, felt the effects of this. When he was on his way home after a trip across the Bonisdorf border in nearby Slovenia, the head of the village and SPÖ regional manager was stopped by the Austrian police.

Traveling without a passport
He was accused of violating Section 2 (1) of the Passport Act BGBI. 839/92. This means that Fabio Halb had "crossed the federal border without carrying a valid travel document" when entering Austria. 36 is the fine, served by the BH.

The mayor takes note of the fine and pays it conscientiously. At the same time, however, he expects the same consistency when it comes to fines against foreign speeders, drunk drivers and people smugglers. On Facebook, Fabio Halb now warns all those who are often only on a flying visit to Slovenia to be careful: "Please take your passport or identity card with you!"