Father drives unlicensed with son on lap playing with lighter on German motorway
A 22-year-old man was stopped by police on the A8 motorway near Unterhaching last Friday afternoon. Officers discovered the driver had no valid licence, carried a fake one, and was holding his four-year-old son unsecured on his lap while the child played with a cigarette lighter. The incident unfolded when highway police near Holzkirchen pulled over the BMW for a routine check. Inside, they found the father driving with his son sitting on his lap, unrestrained. The boy was holding a lighter and attempting to light a cigarette at the time.
The driver presented a counterfeit licence to officers, who soon confirmed he had never legally obtained one. A child seat was found in the car's boot but had not been used. Police also noted the vehicle belonged to the man's girlfriend, who now faces charges for permitting an unlicensed driver to use her car. Authorities have since launched criminal proceedings against the father for forgery and driving without a licence. He also faces a fine for failing to secure his child properly. Child protective services have been notified and are involved in the case.
The case has drawn attention after media outlets, including upday.com, reported the details. Legal action is underway, with both the father and his girlfriend facing consequences. The child's welfare is now under review by the Jugendamt.
