
is the term in Germany for the
highway patrol
A highway patrol is a police unit, detail, or law enforcement agency created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways within a jurisdiction. They are also referred to in many countri ...
. Heavy traffic and high-speed accidents resulted in the creation of special police units to patrol the expressways known as ''
Autobahn
The (; German , ) is the federal controlled-access highway system in Germany. The official term is (abbreviated ''BAB''), which translates as 'federal motorway'. The literal meaning of the word is 'Federal Auto(mobile) Track'.
Much of t ...
en''.
Organisation
Although the autobahns are federal roads, the are always part of the state police (''
Landespolizei
; ) is a term used to refer to the state police of any of the states of Germany.
History
The of today can trace its origins to the late 19th century, when Germany united into a single country in 1871, under Otto von Bismarck. Various ...
'' in Germany). In Switzerland, the state police (''Kantonspolizei'') is responsible for highway patrols as well.
Operations
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 duties.
Investigation sections probe crime at rest stops and the movement of criminals and smugglers on the ''Autobahn'', often together with
German Customs. The also use fast unmarked vehicles with video cameras discreetly mounted front and back to follow and film reckless drivers and speeders. Approximately 30% of autobahns in Germany have a permanent speed limit of or less, primarily in urban areas. On the remainder, the 130 km/h speed limit is only advisory.
Media
* is a German television series about a two-man team of first set in Berlin then later in North Rhine-Westphalia.
See also
*
Highway patrol
A highway patrol is a police unit, detail, or law enforcement agency created primarily for the purpose of overseeing and enforcing traffic safety compliance on roads and highways within a jurisdiction. They are also referred to in many countri ...
(USA)
*
Road policing unit (UK)
*
Traffic corps (Ireland)
External links
*
Polizei.de
{{Authority control
Specialist law enforcement agencies of Switzerland
Law enforcement in Austria
Autobahns in Germany
Police units of Germany
State law enforcement agencies of Germany