A municipal employee in the small Allgäu city of Mindelheim is at the centre of a significant legal case, accused of preventing more than 160 speeding violations from being processed. According to investigators, the suspected actions may have allowed numerous drivers to escape penalties entirely.
The town has around 15,000 residents, yet the number of dismissed cases far exceeded typical patterns — raising immediate concerns within local administration.
Accused of bending the law
Prosecutors allege that the 30-year-old woman deliberately failed to pursue fines and administrative procedures linked to speed enforcement. The damage to the city is estimated at nearly €10,000 in lost revenue, based on penalties that were never collected.
The charges count 164 instances of legal misconduct — a serious offense in Germany when public officials are suspected of abusing their authority to change or ignore legal outcomes.
Discovery during internal review
The case first came to light in mid-2023. A routine internal audit revealed an unusual accumulation of unresolved traffic violations. The city’s leadership quickly filed a criminal complaint, and the employee was immediately removed from her duties pending the investigation.
Authorities say that many of the speeding cases became time-barred because they were left untouched for too long. Once deadlines expire, the municipality legally loses the ability to issue fines.
Investigation completed — court decision pending
Police and prosecutors have now finished examining the case files. It is up to the district court in Memmingen to decide whether the indictment will proceed to trial. If the court agrees to hear the case, the accused could soon face proceedings.
Prosecutors have not disclosed whether the drivers involved had any connection to the employee or whether she acted for personal reasons or simply through neglect.
Questions remain — presumption of innocence applies
So far, no official motive has been identified. Representatives of the court emphasize that until proven otherwise, the woman remains presumed innocent under German law.
What is clear, however, is that the situation has forced the city to reassess its internal controls over traffic enforcement — and has sparked broader debate about the reliability of local administrative oversight.
