Police warn against celebrating from car windows

Copenhagen West Police have reminded the public that celebrating by hanging out of a moving car window is illegal and dangerous, as the penalties are severe.

The warning comes ahead of student graduation celebrations, with authorities noting that last year several people in the district were sentenced to conditional imprisonment, unconditional driving licence revocation, and vehicle confiscation for allowing passengers to hang out of windows while driving.

Kim Erik Hansen, deputy police inspector at Copenhagen West Police, urged drivers to take responsibility if celebrations in the car become unruly. “Pull over and stop driving. For your own sake and everyone else’s,” he said.

Even at low speeds of 30–40 km/h, such behaviour remains highly dangerous, Hansen stressed. “When people are sitting on a window frame and the car is moving slowly, it might not seem so bad. But if there’s sudden braking or a collision, it’s extremely dangerous.”

Police will increase patrols targeting graduation celebrations in traffic in the coming period.

Recent cases from June 2025 include:

A 18-year-old woman in Albertslund received 50 days’ conditional imprisonment, a one-year driving ban, and confiscation of a car worth approximately 200,000 kroner.

A 19-year-old man in Rødovre received 50 days’ conditional imprisonment, a one-year driving ban, and car confiscation.

A 19-year-old man in Albertslund received the same penalties.

A 17-year-old woman in Søborg received 50 days’ conditional imprisonment, a one-year driving ban, and car confiscation.

A 41-year-old woman in Ishøj received 50 days’ conditional imprisonment, a one-year driving ban, and confiscation of a car worth approximately 700,000 kroner. The ruling was later upheld by the Eastern High Court.