Here are fines and penalties for some of the more common violations:

Speeding

Violation

Fine (€)

Points

License Suspension

Exceeding Speed Limit

Within/outside city limits

Within/outside city limits

Within/outside city limits

Up to 10 km/h

30/20

  

11-15 km/h

50/40

  

16-20 km/h

70/60

  

21-25 km/h

115/100

1/1

 

26-30 km/h

180/150

1/1

 

31-40 km/h

260/200

1

1 month/1 month*

41-50 km/h

200/160

2

1 month

51-60 km/h

280/240

2

2 months/1 month

61-70 km/h

480/440

2

3 months/2 months

over 70 km/h

680/600

2

3 months

*There is usually only a license suspension if the speed is in excess of 26km/h or more twice within a year.

Tailgating

As a rule of thumb, a safe distance behind the vehicle if front should be at least half of the speedometer value in meters.

Many German roads, highways and Autobahns outside of populated areas have posts on the side of the roadway that are usually 50 meters apart. These can serve as a reference points to determine how much separation there is between vehicles.

A safe distance behind a leading vehicle as well as vehicles to each side must be maintained. A safe lateral distance when passing trucks or cars is one meter while passing motorcycles a safe distance is 1.5 meters.

ViolationFine (€)PointsLicense Suspension
Going less than 80km/h
Inadequate distance from vehicle in front25  
With endangerment30  
With damages35  
Distance in meters going faster than 80 km/h (or 100km/h)
Less than 5/10 of half speedometer751 
Less than 4/10 of half speedometer1001 
Less than 3/10 of half speedometer1601 (2)1 month*
Less than 2/10 of half speedometer2401 (2)2 months*
Less than 1/10 of half speedometer3201 (2)3 months*
(*) = if speed was more than 100 km/h
(Example: At a speed of 100 km/h, the minimum distance to the vehicle in front should be 25 meters – 5/10 of half the speedometer)
Distance in meter going faster than 130 km/h
Less than 5/10 of half speedometer1001 
Less than 4/10 of half speedometer1801 
Less than 3/10 of half speedometer24021 month
Less than 2/10 of half speedometer32022 months
Less than 1/10 of half speedometer40023 months

Turning, Intersection, Lane Change Violations

Violation

Fine (€)

Points

Turning or changing lanes without proper signaling

10

 

Turning or changing lanes without proper signaling with endangerment

30

 

Turning or changing lanes without proper signaling with damage

35

 

Failure to yield proper right of way to vehicles while turning or changing lanes

40

 

Failure to yield proper right of way to vehicles while turning or changing lanes with endangerment

140

1

Failure to yield proper right of way to vehicles while turning or changing lanes with damage

170

1

Endangering pedestrians while turning or changing lanes

80

1

Endangering oncoming traffic while turning left

70

1

Entering an intersection or access lane and blocking traffic in stop and go traffic

20

 

Improper turn into private property; illegal/improper backing

80

1

Autobahn and Highways

Violation

Fine (€)

Points

License Suspension

Turning around/reversing on exit/on ramp

75

1

 

Turning around/reversing on shoulder

130

1

 

Turning/reversing/driving in wrong direction

200

2

1 month

Parking on autobahn or highways

70

1

 

Railroad Crossing Violations

Violation

Fine (€)

Points

License Suspension

Failure to yield to oncoming train

80

 

 

Failure to yield to barriers (gates, warning lights, attendant) at railway crossing

240

1

1 month

Pedestrian/bicycle crossing while gate closed

350

1

 

Vehicular crossing while gate closed

700

2

3 months

Hit and Run

ViolationPoints
Leaving the scene of an accident3
Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in injury or death – also possibility of fine, license suspension and jail depending on circumstances3

Vehicle Deficiencies

ViolationFine (€)Points
Obstructing license plate visibility65 
Use of motor vehicle (except motorbike) or trailer with tires below minimal tread requirements601
Or arranged or allowed by owner751
Use of motor vehicle or trailer in deficient condition901

Pedestrian Crosswalk

ViolationFine (€)Points
Failure to yield to pedestrian, failure to obey posted speed limits, passing in a crosswalk801

Seatbelt Violations

ViolationFine (€)
Failure to fasten seatbelt (also in buses)30
Single child not correctly secured30
More than one child not properly secured35
Single child not secured at all60 + 1 point
More than one child not secured at all70 + 1 point

Cell Phone Ban

ViolationFine (€)Points
Use of cell phone while operating a motor vehicle601
Use of cell phone while operating a bicycle25

Inspection or Emission Control Violations (expired Inspection Date)

ViolationFine (€)Points
2 to 4 months15 
4 to 8 months25 
more than 8 months601

Red Light Violations

ViolationFine (€)PointsLicense Suspension
Running a red light901 
With endangerment20021 month
With damages24021 month
Running an “old” red light (longer than 1 sec.)20021 month
With endangerment32021 month
With damages36021 month

Illegal, Improper or Unsafe Passing

ViolationFine (€)PointsLicense Suspension
Passing on the right within city limits30  
Passing on the right outside city limits1001 
Passing too slowly in relation to the overtaken vehicle801 
Unsafe passing for existing traffic conditions; passing in violation of road signs, outside lane markings with endangerment25021 month
With damages30021 month
Passing in violation of posted signs701

Right of Way

Violation

Fine(€)

Points

Approaching priority road at an inappropriate speed

10

 

Hindering vehicle with right of way

25

 

Hindering vehicle with right of way with endangerment

100

1

Failure to stop at a stop sign with endangerment

100

1

Approaching pedestrian crossing (zebra stripes) too fast when a pedestrian is present

80

1

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol/drugs

Blood alcohol level 0.5 – 1.09 per milliliter/Failing test for drugsFine (€)PointsLicense Suspension
First Offense50021 month
Second Offense1,00023 months
Third Offense1,50023 months
If traffic was endangered (from 0.3 per milliliter)variable3Driving privileges revoked immediately, possibility of jail time and/or very heavy fines
Blood alcohol level over 1.1 per millilitervariable3Driving privileges revoked immediately, possibility of jail time and/or very heavy fines

(Source in German: www.bussgeldkatalog.org)