World · Europe · 4 hrs ago
More than 400 speeding tickets in Germany were cancelled after a fake sign
In September 2026, pranksters put up a fake 70 km/h sign in Haldensleben, a town in Germany’s Saxony-Anhalt state.
The real speed limit there was 50 km/h, and a speed camera was on the same road.
Municipal workers noticed the false sign only after several days, by which time the camera had recorded more than 400 drivers.
Officials did not know exactly when the sign had been changed, making it difficult to judge whether drivers knew they were speeding.
They eventually cancelled the tickets for the more than 400 drivers recorded during that period.
The people who put up the sign have not been identified, and police said impersonating an authorized public official to change road signs can carry up to two years in prison.
Deliberately endangering road safety may also lead to criminal consequences.
More than 400 motorists in Haldensleben, Germany, had speeding offences cancelled after a fake 70 km/h sign replaced a 50 km/h sign.
The sign was placed in September 2026 on a road with a speed camera.
Municipal workers found it after several days, by which time the camera had recorded more than 400 motorists.
Authorities eventually decided to forgive the offences recorded during the period, though they did not know exactly when the sign was put up.
The people responsible had not been identified, and police said the prank could carry criminal penalties.
- Who
- More than 400 motorists were affected. The people who put up the fake sign had not been identified.
- What
- Authorities cancelled the speeding offences recorded while a fake 70 km/h sign was in place instead of a 50 km/h sign.
- When
- The sign was put up in September 2026 and was found after several days. The exact time it was installed was not known.
- Where
- Haldensleben, in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.
- Why
- Motorists were misled about the speed limit by the fake sign.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Pranksters put up a fake 70 km/h sign where the speed limit was 50 km/h.
Municipal workers noticed the fake signs, after more than 400 motorists had been recorded by the speed camera.
Authorities decided to forgive the offences recorded during the period.
- Affected motorists
- More than 400
- Location
- Haldensleben, Saxony-Anhalt
- Actual speed limit
- 50 km/h
- Fake sign
- 70 km/h
- Possible prison term
- Up to two years
4 sources
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