Abstract: A method for detecting a traffic law violation due to the allowable distance between a following vehicle and a guide vehicle being undershot, the following vehicle traveling behind the guide vehicle. At least the respective speed of the following vehicle is identified and the guide vehicle in a detection region in the surroundings of a sensor which supplies speed measurement values. A reference distance is detected and/or ascertained between the following vehicle and the guide vehicle at a reference measurement point. At least one following distance is determined between the following vehicle and the guide vehicle in the detection region using the identified speeds of the following vehicle and the guide vehicle and/or the detected reference distance. A traffic law violation is detected if the following distance in the detection region continuously falls short of a distance threshold.