When are controlling police officers allowed to withhold a driver’s card?

In German traffic law, police officers are authorized to withhold a driver’s card specifically when the card presented does not belong to the driver. This is important because the driver’s card records driving times and rest periods, and using someone else’s card can falsify these records, which is illegal and can compromise road safety.

The other options, such as "when the driver was clearly driving too fast" or "when time at the wheel was unduly extended," do not provide legal grounds for withholding the driver’s card. Speeding or extended driving time might result in other penalties or investigations but do not justify immediately confiscating the card.

The driver’s card must accurately reflect the person behind the wheel to ensure compliance with regulations on driving hours and rest periods, which aim to prevent driver fatigue and accidents. Thus, withholding the card when it belongs to another person helps enforce these safety rules effectively.