The invention relates to an optical detection device (3) for arranging on an attached part (5, 7) of a motor vehicle (1) and for monitoring a region (4, 6) adjacent to the attached part (5, 7), with a transmitting apparatus (11) comprising a light source (13) and with a receiving apparatus (12) comprising a sensor (22). The transmitting apparatus (11) is designed to transmit light beams (18) along predetermined scanning directions (A1, A2, A3, A4) into the region (4, 6), and the receiving apparatus (12) is designed to receive the fractions (19) of the light beams (18) reflected in the region (4, 6).