300 euro fine

350 cars at tuner get-together: charge for drifting

The PS enthusiasts cause smoke and marks on the asphalt at their meetings.(Bild: Markus Tschepp)

Car enthusiasts met up on Saturday night in the city of Salzburg and the surrounding area. The police checked and handed out 43 reports and 17 fines on the spot. One drifting driver had his license plate taken away.  

At weekends, hundreds of horsepower fans meet up with their cars in Salzburg and the surrounding area: this time there were around 350 vehicles, which first met at the Airport Center in Wals-Siezenheim and then extended their meeting to surrounding locations. The Salzburg traffic police took this as an opportunity and positioned themselves at key points such as the Innsbrucker Bundesstraße to control the passing traffic.

Police controlled traffic
With success, as a glance at the balance sheet shows: 43 reports were distributed and 17 fines were collected on the spot. In addition to penalties for alcohol, seatbelt use and even inadequate child restraints, the tuners were also caught. At least two penalties were handed out for drifting - one driver also had his license plate confiscated.

Brief explanation: When drifting, the vehicle is oversteered in a controlled manner. The tires leave scuff marks on the asphalt, which can be considered damage to property - there was also a criminal case recently. Incidentally, drifting has been strictly punishable since the last amendment to the law: the penalty range is 300 to 10,000 euros.

Recently, a driver, a student, protested against such a 300-euro fine for drifting at the administrative court - in vain.