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So, after all these years, how's your German?<br>
<br>
<br>
Ken<br>
<br>
<br>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 4/5/2017 12:07 PM, Tom Hansen wrote:<br>
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<blockquote type="cite"
cite="mid:25AC181D-11E7-4BCB-AB3F-3DF6AF5F3490@moscow.com">
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<div>The <i>Stuttgart Citizen </i>is a news source of the
military community of Stuttgart, Germany.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Been there, done that . . . Headquarters Company, VII
Corps (Kelley Barracks - Stuttgart, Germany) . . . November
1977 - August 1982.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Courtesy of the <i>Stuttgart Citizen</i> at:</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><a
href="http://www.stuttgartcitizencom/featured-stories/know-get-pulled-germany/?utm_source=The+Citizen&utm_campaign=c85c8695c2-The_Citizen_Daily_Email&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5d1698effb-c85c8695c2-259988733"
moz-do-not-send="true">http://www.stuttgartcitizen.com/featured-stories/know-get-pulled-germany/?utm_source=The+Citizen&utm_campaign=c85c8695c2-The_Citizen_Daily_Email&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_5d1698effb-c85c8695c2-259988733</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>---------------------------------</div>
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<div>
<h1 class="title" itemprop="headline" style="box-sizing:
inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size:
32px; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 1.3; color:
rgb(68, 68, 68); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(0, 0,
0, 0); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;"><a
href="http://www.stuttgartcitizen.com/featured-stories/know-get-pulled-germany/"
title="Permalink to What to know if you get pulled
over in Germany" rel="bookmark" style="box-sizing:
inherit; color: rgb(34, 34, 34); text-decoration:
none;" moz-do-not-send="true">What to know if you get
pulled over in Germany</a></h1>
</div>
<div>By Emily Jennings</div>
<div>U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Public Affairs Office</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Police in Germany may use hand-held signals that say
“Halt Polizei” or digital signs attached to their vehicles
that say “Bitte folgen” to ask drivers to pull over.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Driving on the roads in a foreign country where you
don’t speak the language fluently can be nerve wracking
enough. But imagine getting pulled over by police. That’s
what happened last month when Tony Muñoz, a Department of
the Army civilian living in Wiesbaden, was on his way back
from a trip to the Netherlands.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Muñoz was pulled over just across the border in Germany
by an unmarked car that pulled in front of him and flashed
signs that read “Polizei” and “Bitte folgen” (Please
follow). He knew right away what to do and found a safe
place to stop.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Muñoz said the officers who pulled him over were very
polite and spoke English. “They asked me a few general
questions, such as where I live, where I had traveled to,
how long I stayed in the Netherlands and if the car was
mine or rented.”</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Police also searched Muñoz’s bag and looked in the
trunk of his car and underneath the hood. He followed
their instructions and was sent on his way. “As I made my
way back to the Autobahn,” he said, “I noticed they were
already after another car. To me this was a reminder to
always carry your documents when going outside of
Germany.”</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Law abiding drivers who are pulled over by police in
Germany should have no problems and will likely be sent on
their way promptly, as was the case with Muñoz. But it
pays to know what to expect and what documents to have on
hand to make the process go as smoothly as possible,
police said.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>A lot of people see the blue lights and panic, said
Sgt. Joseph Onessimo, a traffic officer with the
Directorate of Emergency Services. But police officers
want to emphasize the importance of slowing down and
focusing on safety. “We want people to stop at the next
possible safe location,” Onessimo said.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Polizeihauptkommissar Stefan Heinz, an instructor at
the HFPV (University for Police and Administration) said
that while getting pulled over in Germany is a bit
different from the U.S., what drivers should do once they
stop is the same; turn off the engine, remain inside the
vehicle, keep hands visible/on the steering wheel and wait
for instructions before looking for documents or taking
any action.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Polizei officers will identify themselves and state the
reason for the traffic stop. It is important that drivers
let the officer know right away if they do not understand
German. The vast majority of officers will be able to
communicate in English, Heinz said. It may be helpful,
however, to keep the garrison military police phone number
on hand in the rare case that communication is limited or
a driver feels their rights are being violated.All police
in Germany have their respective contacts at each
garrison, said Thomas Fink, Wiesbaden Police Directorate
Deputy Director. So Polizei will be able to get in contact
with Military Police, if necessary.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>If a person identifies themselves as a police officer,
but they are dressed in civilian clothes, drivers can ask
for identification to show proof that they are who they
say they are, Heinz said.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The officer will then check the driver for proper
documents and may do a quick inspection to ensure that
lights are working and that the driver is in possession of
a safety vest, warning triangle and first aid kit, he
said.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>“Keep the proper documents with you in your car, and as
long as you follow the proper rules of the road, there’s
really nothing to be worried about,” Onessimo said.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Another thing to note about traffic stops in Germany is
that two officers typically ride in a car One officer will
communicate with the driver and the other will stand watch
to keep the situation secure and may have a machine gun,
Heinz said.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Certain routes are known criminal routes, so drivers
may be pulled over simply for being on that route, he
said. And police may use drug- or money-sniffing dogs.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The thing to remember is that when drivers cooperate,
even if they have violated a law, things will go much more
smoothly, Fink said. “Let police take the lead, relax and
follow instructions.”</div>
</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>---------------</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Police
in Germany may use hand-held signals that say “Halt
Polizei” or digital signs attached to their vehicles that
say “Bitte folgen” to ask drivers to pull over.</span></div>
<div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a
href="http://www.TomandRodna.com/Photos/Germany/Stuttgart_Citizen_040417.jpg"
moz-do-not-send="true">http://www.TomandRodna.com/Photos/Germany/Stuttgart_Citizen_040417.jpg</a></span></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>---------------------------------</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Those were the days, my friend . . .</div>
<div><a
href="http://www.tomandrodna.com/Photos/Germany/Volksmarch_Card_1981_Front.jpg"
moz-do-not-send="true">http://www.tomandrodna.com/Photos/Germany/Volksmarch_Card_1981_Front.jpg</a></div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Seeya
'round town, Moscow, because . . .</span></div>
<div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br>
</span></div>
<div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Moscow
Cares" (the most fun you can have with your pants on)</span></div>
<div><a href="http://www.moscowcares.com/"
style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"
moz-do-not-send="true"><font color="#000000">http://www.MoscowCares.com</font></a></div>
<div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></div>
<div>
<div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Tom
Hansen</span></div>
<div><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Moscow,
Idaho</span></div>
</div>
<div> </div>
</div>
</div>
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