Caught in a Speed Trap

Vienna Police Officers Speeding in a Confiscated Car

The officers were caught on camera in the Section Control zone on Vienna’s Ostautobahn.(Bild: Krone-Collage/Kerschbaummayr Werner, stock.adobe.com)

A 32-year-old man received some unpleasant mail: Officers apparently took his Audi for a joyride—and were driving way too fast. But the owner was the one who got the ticket...

Something just doesn’t add up here! But let’s start from the beginning: On May 29, police officers conducted a house search in Vienna’s Favoriten district. The 32-year-old was suspected of being involved in drug-related activities. The WEGA unit forced open the apartment door, while colleagues were fiddling with the Turkish man’s Audi. The officers were successful, seizing a few grams of narcotics at the suspect’s home.

Audi Seized and Taken Away
The 32-year-old was handcuffed. His Audi was also seized by police officers. The operation—which could probably be described as routine for the Vienna police—ended at 1 a.m. About two weeks later, in early June: Lawyer Nikolaus Rast’s client had long since been released from custody, but had, of course, been charged—with drug offenses.

Attorney Nikolaus Rast is representing the 32-year-old.(Bild: Klemens Groh)

But what the Turkish man didn’t expect was an anonymous notice for 70 euros arriving in the mail. So far, so ordinary. But at the very moment his Audi was speeding through the Section Control on the A4 East Highway, he was sitting handcuffed in the police van—and certainly not behind the wheel.

Police officers apparently fell into their own speed trap
An hour later, officers likely issued him a speeding ticket using the impounded Audi. “If the police are going to get caught in a speed trap with my client’s car, it would be nice to provide him with the photo evidence for the family album,” commented attorney Nikolaus Rast. Although the fine has been paid for now, Rast is still leaving the door open for an appeal.

The Vienna Police Department declined to comment on the matter, citing data protection reasons. Another big question mark: Almost an entire hour passed between the official action and the speeding incident...