Wheelies – up to 10,000 euros fine in Austria

7. June 2022

3 min read

In the future, Austria wants to take tougher action against undesirable behavior in road traffic. Wheelies, burnouts, drifting etc. could become extremely expensive in the future.

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In the future, Austria wants to take tougher action against undesirable behavior in road traffic. Wheelies, burnouts, drifting etc. could become extremely expensive in the future.

In the course of a new amendment to the Motor Vehicle Act in Austria, various scenarios have been incorporated “that describe behavior not in keeping with the nature of the motor vehicle”. This refers to wheelies, burnouts, leaving the wheels locked to leave skid marks and drifting. Impoundment of the vehicle for up to 72 hours would be possible. According to media reports, fines of up to 10,000 euros would also be possible alongside this, although this would only be applied in extreme cases and would primarily target the “tuning/poser scene”.

Federal Law Gazette of May 13, 2022 – § 102 para. 3c

(3c) The following shall in any case be deemed to be conduct not in keeping with the intrinsic nature of the motor vehicle (subsection (3))

the performance of a starting acceleration, deceleration or skidding movement not related to the situation, with excessive slippage on one or more wheels occurring not only for a short time, in particular with resulting noise,
non-situational use of the motor vehicle in which there is not contact between the road surface and all wheels at all times,
drifting or rapid circling of the vehicle around its own axis while stationary, or
driving in which electrically powered hydraulic or pneumatic pumps are used to raise the body on the front wheels and each wheel suspension individually.
If such behavior is perceived by public safety organs and if it can be assumed on the basis of the overall situation on the ground that this will occur repeatedly or continue, the public safety organs shall be entitled to immediately order the interruption of the journey and to prevent its continuation by taking appropriate precautions, such as taking away the vehicle keys and the vehicle documents, locking or parking the vehicle, applying technical barriers, taking away the license plate and the like. Such coercive measures shall be lifted after 72 hours at the latest.