Autobahnpolizei

Autobahnpolizei is the term in Germany, Austria and the German-speaking parts of Switzerland for the highway police. Heavy traffic and high-speed accidents resulted in the creation of special police units to patrol the expressways known as " Autobahnen".

=Organisation in Germany=Although the autobahns are federal roads, the "Autobahnpolizei" are always part of the state police ("Landespolizei").

Operations in Germany

"Autobahnpolizei" officers facilitate and regulate the flow of traffic, help motorists whose vehicles have broken down on the "Autobahn" and rapidly respond to accidents. Vehicle safety checks and crime prevention at rest stops are also part of the "Autobahnpolizei’s" duties.

Investigation sections probe crime at rest stops and the movement of criminals and smugglers on the "Autobahn", often together with German Customs. The "Autobahnpolizei" also use fast unmarked vehicles with video cameras discretely mounted front and back to follow and film reckless drivers and speeders. Although the "Autobahns" do not have a general speed limit, 70 percent of the 12,200 [CIA Factbook-Germany https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/gm.html#Comm] kilometer network (2005) now has designated speed limits.

German Autobahnpolizei car stopping traffic

Media

"Alarm für Cobra 11 - Die Autobahnpolizei" is a very popular German television series about a two-man team of "Autobahnpolizei" first set in Berlin then later in North Rhine-Westphalia.

ee also

* Road Policing Unit (UK)
* Highway patrol (USA)

External links

* [http://www.polizei.de Polizei.de] de icon

References