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Baden-Baden's mayor: Drunk driving against traffic lights!
Dietmar Späth, mayor of Baden-Baden, causes an alcohol-related accident in Rastatt. Investigations are ongoing.
Baden-Baden's mayor: Drunk driving against traffic lights!
In an unpleasant turn of events, the independent mayor of Baden-Baden, Dietmar Späth, caused a scandal while he was on sick leave for months. The incident occurred last Wednesday when Späth, while turning onto a county road, drove his vehicle onto a central island and ultimately crashed into a traffic light. Fortunately, no one was harmed, as n-tv.de reports, but the incident raises questions.
A voluntary breath alcohol test showed an alarming level of around 1.5 per mille. According to his lawyer, Späth was not only under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident, but also under the influence of medication. This not only causes astonishment among the population, but could also have legal consequences, as the public prosecutor in Rastatt is now investigating allegations of drunk driving and endangering road traffic. Depending on the severity of the offense, the penalties for this can be up to five years in prison or high fines, according to dersteuermeister.de.
Consequences of drunk driving
Since Späth's blood alcohol content is above the legal limits, he is not only in distress before the eyes of the public, but also in legal danger. With an alcohol content of 0.5 per mille, a driver is considered unfit to drive; from 1.1 per mille, the driver is completely unfit to drive. This regulation is anchored in Section 316 of the Criminal Code. Penalties for drunk driving can include fines, license suspensions and even imprisonment. The penalties are even harsher for repeat offenders.
The exact damage caused by the accident has not yet been quantified. Späth has been on sick leave since the beginning of August and, on medical advice, is in a hospital stay that is scheduled to last until November 23rd. This circumstance causes many people in the city to speculate: How could such a serious accident occur?
Social relevance
The incident also sheds light on the question of responsibility behind the wheel. The prevention measures for safe driving under the influence are well known, including planning ahead for a safe return and using alternatives to driving. A prominent citizen like Späth in particular should set a good example.
It remains exciting to see how the legal consequences for the mayor develop and whether he will be able to get out of this predicament. The company expects answers and clarification of the situation as quickly as possible, which is causing a lot of discussion in Baden-Baden.