"Weed" seized

Checks at hemp fair: 161 driving licenses confiscated

The 21-year-old had tried to evade a police check.

(Bild: APA/HANS KLAUS TECHT)

The fact that the police keep a particularly close eye on drivers and their fitness to drive during the "Cultiva" cannabis fair in Vösendorf near Vienna in Lower Austria is nothing new - especially as there have already been special campaigns in previous years. But this year, too, the law enforcement agencies were to net numerous impaired drivers: 161 (!) driving licenses were confiscated and, among other things, more than 700 grams of cannabis and 36 joints were seized.

As part of the three-day fair at the weekend, the police had increased their "control density and police deployment time", as was reported. And this also had an impact on the number of traffic offenders caught: While 111 driving licenses were confiscated in the previous year, this year the figure was 161.

184 drivers not roadworthy
A total of 184 impaired drivers were taken off the road, according to the police after the focus campaign. 161 drivers were impaired by narcotics, and one driver was found to be under the influence of alcohol at 1.64 per mille, according to the police.

Cannabis, joints, ecstasy
One driver was also provisionally arrested for evading arrest. The officers also made finds in the vehicles. Among other things, 710 grams of cannabis, 36 joints and ecstasy tablets were seized. A total of 187 charges were brought under the Narcotics Act and another under the Weapons Act, as one of the drivers had a "prohibited weapon in the form of a knife" with him.