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Act on Regulatory Offences
(Gesetz über Ordnungswidrigkeiten – OWiG)

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Übersetzung durch Neil Mussett

Translation provided by Neil Mussett

Stand: Die Übersetzung berücksichtigt die Änderung(en) des Gesetzes durch Artikel 21 des Gesetzes vom 22. Dezember 2025 (BGBl. 2025 I Nr. 349)
Der Stand der deutschsprachigen Dokumentation kann aktueller sein. Vergleichen Sie dazu bitte http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/owig_1968/BJNR004810968.html.

Version information: The translation includes the amendment(s) to the Act by Article 21 of the Act of 22 December 2025 (Federal Law Gazette 2025 I No. 349)
Translations may not be updated at the same time as the German legal provisions displayed on this website. To compare with the current status of the German version, see http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/owig_1968/BJNR004810968.html.

Zur Nutzung dieser Übersetzung lesen Sie bitte den Hinweis unter "Translations".

For conditions governing use of this translation, please see the information provided under "Translations".

           
PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER ONE
SCOPE OF APPLICATION
Section 1Definition
Section 2Substantive application
Section 3No sanctioning without a law
Section 4Temporal application
Section 5Territorial application
Section 6Time of the act
Section 7Place of the act
CHAPTER TWO
BASIS FOR SANCTIONING
Section 8Commission of an act by omission
Section 9Acting for another
Section 10Intent and negligence
Section 11Error
Section 12Responsibility
Section 13Attempt
Section 14Participation
Section 15Necessary defence
Section 16Necessity as justification
CHAPTER THREE
REGULATORY FINE
Section 17Amount of regulatory fine
Section 18Easier means of payment
CHAPTER FOUR
CONCURRENCE OF STATUTORY VIOLATIONS
Section 19Act constituting more than one violation
Section 20Commission of more than one violation
Section 21Concurrence of criminal offence and regulatory offence
CHAPTER FIVE
CONFISCATION OF OBJECTS
Section 22Confiscation of objects
Section 23Extended prerequisites for confiscation
Section 24Principle of proportionality
Section 25Confiscation of replacement value
Section 26Effect of confiscation
Section 27Order in its own right
Section 28Compensation
Section 29Special provision for entities and representatives
CHAPTER SIX
CONFISCATION OF THE VALUE OF THE PROCEEDS OF AN OFFENCE;
REGULATORY FINE IMPOSED ON LEGAL PERSONS
AND ASSOCIATIONS OF PERSONS
Section 29aConfiscation of the value of the proceeds of an offence
Section 30Regulatory fine imposed on legal persons and on associations of persons
CHAPTER SEVEN
STATUTE OF LIMITATION
Section 31Prosecution barred by the statute of limitation
Section 32Period of limitation tolled by statute
Section 33Period of limitation interrupted
Section 34Execution subject to the statute of limitations
PART II
REGULATORY FINING PROCEEDINGS
CHAPTER ONE
JURISDICTION CONCERNING PROSECUTION AND
SANCTIONING OF REGULATORY OFFENCES
Section 35Prosecution and sanctioning by the administrative authority
Section 36Substantive jurisdiction of the administrative authority
Section 37Local jurisdiction of the administrative authority
Section 38Connected regulatory offences
Section 39Jurisdiction of more than one authority
Section 40Prosecution by the public prosecution office
Section 41Transfer of the case to the public prosecution office
Section 42The public prosecution office taking over the case
Section 43Transfer of the case to the administrative authority
Section 44Binding effect for the administrative authority
Section 45Jurisdiction of the court
CHAPTER TWO
GENERAL PROCEDURAL PROVISIONS
Section 46Application of the provisions regarding criminal proceedings
Section 47Prosecution of regulatory offences
Section 48Repealed
Section 49Inspection of the files by the person concerned and by the administrative authority
Section 49aEx officio transmission encompassing several sets of proceedings
Section 49bTransmission encompassing several sets of proceedings in response to requests; other use of data for purposes encompassing several sets of proceedings
Section 49cArrangements relating to files
Section 49dProtection of personal data in an electronic file
Section 50Information as to measures taken by the administrative authority
Section 51Procedure for service effected by the administrative authority
Section 52Restoration of the status quo ante
CHAPTER THREE
PRELIMINARY PROCEEDINGS
I. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 53Responsibilities of the police
Section 54Repealed
Section 55Hearing of the person concerned
II. CAUTIONING PROCEDURE
Section 56Cautioning by the administrative authority
Section 57Cautioning by officials on external duty and by police officers
Section 58Authorisation of cautioning
III. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY
Section 59Remuneration of experts, interpreters and translators, compensation of witnesses and third parties
Section 60Defence
Section 61Conclusion of investigations
Section 62Legal remedy against measures of the administrative authority
IV. PROCEEDINGS OF THE PUBLIC PROSECUTION OFFICE
Section 63Participation of the administrative authority
Section 64Public charges extended to the regulatory offence
CHAPTER FOUR
REGULATORY FINING NOTICE
Section 65General
Section 66Contents of the regulatory fining notice
CHAPTER FIVE
OBJECTION AND COURT PROCEEDINGS
I. OBJECTION
Section 67Form and time limit
Section 68Court with jurisdiction
Section 69Intermediate proceedings
Section 70Court decision on the admissibility of an objection
II. MAIN PROCEEDINGS
Section 71Main hearing
Section 72Decision in a ruling
Section 73Presence of the person concerned at the main hearing
Section 74Proceedings in absentia
Section 75Attendance of the public prosecution office at the main hearing
Section 76Participation of the administrative authority
Section 77Scope of the taking of evidence
Section 77aSimplified procedure for taking evidence
Section 77bDispensing with stating reasoning for the judgment
Section 78Other measures simplifying the proceedings
III. APPELLATE REMEDIES
Section 79Complaint on a point of law
Section 80Leave to lodge a complaint on a point of law
Section 80aComposition of the regulatory fining divisions of the higher regional courts
CHAPTER SIX
REGULATORY FINING PROCEEDINGS AND CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS
Section 81Transition from regulatory fining proceedings to criminal proceedings
Section 82Imposition of a regulatory fine in criminal proceedings
Section 83Proceedings relating to regulatory offences and criminal offences
CHAPTER SEVEN
LEGAL FORCE AND RE-OPENING OF THE PROCEEDINGS
Section 84Effect of the legal force
Section 85Re-opening of the proceedings
Section 86Rescission of the regulatory fining notice in criminal proceedings
CHAPTER EIGHT
PROCEDURE IF INCIDENTAL CONSEQUENCES OR A REGULATORY FINE ARE ORDERED AGAINST A LEGAL PERSON OR ASSOCIATION OF PERSONS
Section 87Order for confiscation
Section 88Assessment of the regulatory fine against legal persons and associations of persons
CHAPTER NINE
ENFORCEMENT OF DECISIONS CONCERNING REGULATORY FINES
Section 89Enforceability of decisions concerning regulatory fines
Section 90Enforcement of regulatory fining notices
Section 91Enforcement of the decision concerning regulatory fines issued by the court
Section 92Enforcement authority
Section 93Easier means of payment
Section 94Offsetting of instalments
Section 95Collection of the regulatory fine
Section 96Ordering of coercive detention
Section 97Enforcement of coercive detention
Section 98Enforcement against juveniles and adolescents
Section 99Enforcement of incidental consequences constituting an obligation to effect payment
Section 100Subsequent decisions on confiscation
Section 101Enforcement against the estate
Section 102Subsequent criminal proceedings
Section 103Decision of the court
Section 104Procedure in case of court decisions
CHAPTER TEN
COSTS
I. PROCEEDINGS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY
Section 105Decision on costs
Section 106Assessment of costs
Section 107Fees and expenses
Section 108Legal remedy and enforcement
II. PROCEEDINGS OF THE PUBLIC PROSECUTION OFFICE
Section 108a
III. PROCEEDINGS CONCERNING ADMISSIBILITY OF THE OBJECTION
Section 109Costs in case of withdrawal and rejection of objection
IV. EXPENSES OF THE PERSON CONCERNED
Section 109a
CHAPTER ELEVEN
COMPENSATION FOR PROSECUTION MEASURES
Section 110
CHAPTER TWELVE
FILING AND COMMUNICATION DURING THE PROCEEDINGS
Section 110aElectronic filing; power to issue statutory instruments
Section 110bElectronic forms; empowerment to issue statutory instruments
Section 110cCorresponding application of the Code of Criminal Procedure to filing and communication in proceedings
PART III
SPECIFIC REGULATORY OFFENCES
CHAPTER ONE
VIOLATION OF GOVERNMENTAL ORDERS
Section 111Stating false names
Section 112Violation of the house rules of a legislative organ
Section 113Unauthorised gatherings
Section 114Entering military installations
Section 115Contact with prisoners
CHAPTER TWO
VIOLATION OF PUBLIC ORDER
Section 116Public instigation to regulatory offences
Section 117Non-permissible noise
Section 118Public nuisance
Section 119Grossly offensive and disturbing acts
Section 120Prohibition to engage in prostitution
Section 121Keeping dangerous animals
Section 122Total intoxication
Section 123Confiscation, rendering unusable
CHAPTER THREE
ABUSE OF STATE INSIGNIA OR INSIGNIA PROTECTED BY THE STATE
Section 124Use of coats of arms or official flags
Section 125Use of the red cross or of the Swiss coat of arms
Section 126Abuse of vocational clothing or badges
Section 127Production or utilisation of items which may be used to falsify money or documents
Section 128Production or dissemination of prints similar to paper money or illustrations
Section 129Confiscation
CHAPTER FOUR
VIOLATION OF OBLIGATORY SUPERVISION IN OPERATIONS AND ENTERPRISES
Section 130
CHAPTER FIVE
JOINT PROVISIONS
Section 131
PART IV
FINAL PROVISIONS
Section 132Restriction of basic rights
Section 133Transitional provisions
Section 134Transitional arrangement regarding the Act on the Introduction of Electronic Files in Criminal Matters and the Further Promotion of Electronic Legal Transactions (Gesetz zur Einführung der elektronischen Akte in Strafsachen und zur weiteren Förderung des elektronischen Rechtsverkehrs); powers to issue statutory instruments