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Questions frequently asked of the lawyer about the MPE
(abbreviation for "medical-psychological examination")

Christoffer Friedrich assists you with all problems concerning the MPE.
As a lawyer, he has often answered the following questions:

1. What is the MPE?

The MPE assesses whether a person is suitable to drive a vehicle in the scope of talks, tests and exercises. The large majority of the participants has to go for an MPE due to drink driving.
In order to get their driving license back, these drivers have to prove that they have critically dealt with their drinking behaviour. The MPE gives these persons the chance to plausibly convey that they have changed their drinking behaviour and are no longer a danger to the safety on the road. Even when it comes to drug consumers and point hunters, the MPE is there to clarify whether those involved have changed their behaviour accordingly.

2. What happens at the MPE?

The MPU basically comprises two main parts: the medical examination and a psychological talk. The medical part includes a physical examination; sometimes a urine and a blood sample are required. During the psychological part, there are detailed talks about which notes are made. In addition, there are tests on performance (reaction, concentration, alertness, etc).

3. When is the MPE by order?
 

• If a vehicle was driven by a person with a blood alcohol concentration of 1.6 per mille.
• If a medical opinion results in there being no signs of alcohol dependency yet signs of alcohol abuse or other facts that substantiate the assumption of alcohol abuse.
• It the driving license was withdrawn because of dependency on narcotics or other psychoactive working substances or if it should be clarified whether someone still is dependent or still consumes drugs. In the "special case of Cannabis (Marihuana / Hash), it depends on whether Cannabis is consumed regularly or only every now and then.
• Furthermore, conspicuities in relation to general traffic conspicuities (e.g. 18 points at the central register), crimes or health impairments can give cause for an MPE:

If you are not sure whether your case belongs to the mandatory case, we recommend you to ask a lawyer.

4. Where can you undergo an MPE?

An MPE can only be carried out as state recognized assessment offices for driving ability. Mr Kuss would be glad to inform a client of a suitable place.

5. When can you be re-examined after a negative assessment?

There should be recommendation in the assessment stating what you can undertake, in order to increase your chances of a positive assessment. If you do not understand the recommendations, then you can get the assessor to explain the assessment and the recommendation in a personal talk without further costs being involved. There is no "ban period" that states when you can try to pass a new assessment. However, we recommend not going for a new assessment too early. A recommendation should be included in the assessment, in order to increase your chances of a positive assessment.

6. If you have to go for a second MPE, is it different?

A new MPE is exactly the same as the previous one. But please note that you should follow the recommendations of the previous MPE as the chances of successfully passing the second MPE increase significantly.

7. What will happen if I do not go for the MPE?

The driving license authority is allowed to assume that you are not apt to drive a vehicle if you cannot present an MPE. In this case, you will not be issued a new driving license after the ban period has expired.

8. Is my driving license handed back to me automatically after the ban period has expired?

No. A driving license has to be applied for. Was the driving license withdrawn more than two years ago, the theoretical and practical tests have to be passed again.

9. Can I avoid the MPE with a foreign driving license?

According to a judgment by the regional higher court in Celle that was based on a judgment by the European Court of Justice, a person can render himself liable to prosecution by driving without a license in his home country, if he acquired the driving license abroad during his ban period. This also applies if the driving license is first made use of after the ban period.
In principle, every individual case must be examined separately. Mr Kuss would be glad to advise you on issues regarding the validity of a driving license acquired abroad.

10. Can the ban period be shortened?

Fundamentally speaking, it is possible to shorten the ban period. Yet, law stipulates certain requirements, which must be heeded. Such facts are to be submitted to the court, but they cannot be taken into consideration until after the verdict. Usually proof of training measures is promising, which prove that the convicted person has dealt with his behaviour involved in drink-driving.

Mr Kuss would be more than happy to help you effectively implement measures to shorten the period.

Your lawyer in Frankfurt and Hanau: Christoffer Friedrich

To prepare for the MPE, we work together with Dipl. Psych. Reiner Mähringer-Kunz in Frankfurt. http://www.mpu-fsho.de