Driver’s license withdrawal is not bound by criminal judgments

VVGE 1971/75 Nr. 113Other CourtDec 3, 1974Not Examined

Extracted by Omnilex

Omnilex summary

The publication states that, under the separation of powers, the authority responsible for withdrawing a driver’s license is not generally bound by criminal court decisions. Criminal punishment and administrative measures are based on different criteria: the criminal judge focuses mainly on fault, while the administrative authority must also consider the degree of traffic danger. License withdrawal is characterized as a preventive and educational traffic-safety measure rather than a penalty.

Omnilex headnote

Art. 16 SVG; administrative withdrawal of a driving licence and relation to criminal judgments: by virtue of the separation of powers, the authority competent to order an administrative measure is not, as a rule, bound by the criminal court’s assessment. Criminal punishment and administrative measure serve different functions and are determined according to different criteria; the former is primarily fault-based, whereas the latter additionally depends on the seriousness of the traffic risk. The licence withdrawal is a preventive and educational safety measure, not a punishment (consid. principle stated in the publication).

Full text

Entscheidpublikation VVGE 1971/75 Nr. 113, S. 126:

Art. 16 SVG.

Nach dem Grundsatz der Gewaltentrennung ist die zum Entzug des Führerausweises zuständige Behörde an die strafrichterlichen Entscheidungen nicht gebunden.

Entscheid des Regierungsrates vom 3. Dezember 1974 (Nr. 832).

Nach dem Prinzip der Gewaltentrennung ist die zum Entzug des Führerausweises zuständige Behörde an die strafrichterlichen Entscheidungen grundsätzlich nicht gebunden. Strafe und Massnahme sind nämlich nicht nach gleichen Gesichtspunkten auszufällen. Während der Richter die Strafe für ein Verkehrsdelikt vorwiegend nach dem Verschulden festzusetzen hat, muss die Verwaltungsbehörde vermehrt auch auf die Schwere der Verkehrsgefährdung abstellen. Eine Administrativmassnahme ist denn auch nicht als Strafe, sondern als Massnahme zur Sicherung des Verkehrs mit vornehmlich präventivem bzw. erzieherischem Charakter anzusehen.

Keywords

driver’s license withdrawalseparation of powerstraffic safetyadministrative measurecriminal judgmentpreventioneducation

Extracted by Omnilex

Key legal questions extracted by Omnilex

Key legal question

Whether the authority competent to withdraw a driver’s license is bound by criminal judgments.

Extracted holding

No. Under the separation of powers, the administrative authority is generally not bound by the criminal court’s decision.

Extracted reasoning

Penalty and administrative measure pursue different purposes and are assessed by different criteria. The criminal judge primarily determines punishment based on fault, whereas the administrative authority must also focus on the seriousness of the traffic danger. A license withdrawal is a preventive and educational traffic safety measure, not a punishment.

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