Police in several federal states are increasingly using covert checks and automated camera systems to detect prohibited mobile phone use while driving The measures are prompted by persistently high observed levels of the behaviour and accident figures linked to distraction: state police forces report that stationary and mobile operations serve both as a deterrent and as a means of gathering evidence. So-called Monocams are being trialled as a technological supplement. They take images and flag possible offences as detected cases, which are then checked by police officers.
The practice is documented in reports by regional authorities and media: in Rhineland-Palatinate and at Trier Police Headquarters, nearly 700 offences were recorded in the first half of 2026, according to the police, following the introduction of the Monocam The experience of these states serves as a model for other authorities looking to expand unannounced checks. There are also initiatives for targeted covert operations by officers on patrol or in plain clothes, to document distraction in moving traffic directly.
The measures are based on existing traffic regulations: using a mobile phone while driving is prohibited under Section 23(1a) of the Road Traffic Regulations, and the relevant standard penalties are set out in the nationwide fine schedule. Under the rules currently in force, a proven offence carries a fine of at least €100 and one point on the driving register in Flensburg; the precise penalty depends on the administrative procedure in the case.
At the same time, the measures are subject to legal and data protection limits: automated monitoring in public roads must comply with the rules governing the use of optical and electronic equipment and with data protection requirements. Authorities therefore emphasise that every potential hit is subsequently checked by a human being, and that transparency and limits on data retention are observed. Data protection advocates and lawyers have voiced criticism, pointing to the limits on covert video or image analysis and calling for a clear legal basis and legal remedies for those affected.
For road safety the effectiveness of the measures remains central: studies and traffic checks by ADAC, motoring organisations and police forces show that visible and automated surveillance reduces the behaviour observed. It is unclear whether the technology will be rolled out more widely across Germany, whether legal rules will be standardised or whether penalties will be tightened—for example, by increasing the number of points. These issues are currently being discussed at state and federal level.
The linked terms and institutions in this report are supported by press statements and official police reports; the account is based on published figures and statements from police headquarters, state authorities and independent traffic research.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).