Burgenland police confiscate 30 driver's licenses during festival checks

According to the police, one focus of the checks was on the district of Güssing, with the event venues in Bildein and Wiesen. In both municipalities, vehicle checks were carried out, focusing on arrival and departure phases as well as nighttime hours.

Checks were also carried out in the district of Mattersburg. Officers inspected vehicles and specifically approached persons suspected of driving a vehicle under the influence of addictive substances. According to the police, several drivers had to undergo more extensive checks.

The police reported that drug consumption was also detected and reported during the checks. The exact number of reports filed for drug consumption was not specified in detail in the press release. The police announced that the figures would be published in a later statistical report.

Consequences for affected drivers

In previous years as well, there had been an increased number of driver's license confiscations around major events in Burgenland. According to the assessment of the executive, this year's figures follow the same pattern. The police consider the operation a success of their targeted campaign.

For affected drivers, a driver's license confiscation in Austria generally means that the license is temporarily seized and an administrative procedure follows. Depending on the offense, a withdrawal of the driving license for several months up to several years may be imposed. The amount of the fines also depends on the respective offense.

Further checks at major events announced

The Burgenland State Police Directorate emphasized that increased checks would also be carried out at future major events. The aim is to increase traffic safety on access roads and to reduce the number of drivers traveling under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

According to the police, the festival organizers were also informed about the security measures. The executive said they had coordinated with the organizers to better manage arrival and departure traffic and avoid dangerous situations.