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

In German traffic regulations, police officers are allowed to withhold a driver’s card specifically when the card presented does not belong to the person driving. The driver’s card is personal and must only be used by the registered driver. Using someone else’s card is a violation of the rules for professional drivers and the tachograph system.

Options about driving too fast or extended driving time alone do not justify withholding the card. However, these may lead to other enforcement actions. The key reason for withholding the card is to prevent misuse or fraud with the tachograph, which is mandatory to ensure compliance with driving time and rest regulations.

Understanding this rule helps ensure that drivers always carry and use their own tachograph card and that authorities can control legal driving times accurately.