Soapin' Sundays vs the Palatine Prohibition: A German Car-washing Controversy
Car Remains Untouched by Cleaning, a Dirty Picture on Sunday - Every Sunday, the vehicle remains unwashed.
Quickly sudsing up your ride for free on a Sunday - not happening across Rhineland-Palatinate. But, in neighboring Hesse and other states, a suds-soaked spree at the car wash is a go. Critics sniff, demand a shake-up of the legal status quo between Neuwied, Bitburg, Mainz, and Pirmasens.
The German Fuel Station Association views Rhineland-Palatinate's Sunday car wash ban as a relic of the past. After all, fuel stations are open Sundays. Many self-service car washes hum along without a staff member in sight. Furthermore, in neighboring European countries, citizens enjoy the freedom of car washing on their preferred day of the week.
SMEs Dig the Clean Underbody, Their Wallets, Not So Much
Due to this ban across Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, Saarland, and other federal states, medium-sized fuel station operators could face an annual loss of 5,000 to 10,000 euros, according to the association's warning.
The environmental aspect is also at play: Car washes tend to be more water-saving and eco-friendly than a DIY car wash at home, which can burden local sewers or harm the environment directly, according to the association.
Chatting with Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) - a no-go. He's yet to respond to the association's letter or arrange a meeting, a Mainz-based German Press Agency spokesperson revealed.
Pedal to the Metal on Legal Regulations
The legality of car washing on unpaved surfaces like the garden is largely defined by the Water Management Act, with fines the ultimate penalty. Car washing in the open is prohibited. Cities determine what's allowed when it comes to car washing on paved surfaces or by the roadside. Inquiries about local regulations should be made with the responsible authorities, the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) advises.
The Real Deals: Self-Service Car Washes
The environmental association recommends using approved self-service car washes for car washing. There, pollutants are properly pre-cleaned, separated, and discharged. In terms of water consumption, a preferred short program is advised when indulging in a full wash. Car washes use recycled water from an internal cycle, cutting back on overall water usage.
The Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Ministry's Scoop
Recent clarification by the Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Ministry states operating car washes and car wash places on Sundays and public holidays is off-limits due to the state law on the protection of Sundays and public holidays. All publicly noticeable activities that disturb the peace or contradict the nature of Sundays and public holidays are prohibited, according to the law, including operating car washes and car wash places on these days.
Sunday: A Time for Friends, Family, But Not Car Washing?
Car washing has taken on a commercial character, making it incompatible with the day of general rest. The cultural importance of churches as a time of rest on Sundays has waned, according to the association. Similarly, the DGB sees it: "Sunday is a day of rest, time for relaxation, family, friends, and voluntary work." Therefore, Sunday retains its legal protection.
Industry stalwart Stephan Wefelscheid, a Koblenz state parliamentarian with the Free Democrats, views the ban on car washing on Sundays as outdated. "The same applies to shopping in retail stores." Wefelscheid advocates for rethinking the state government's stance on the issue and evaluating the ban's necessity.
- Advocates suggest a reevaluation of Rhineland-Palatinate's Sunday car wash ban, as it could potentially impact medium-sized fuel station operators financially, with an annual loss of up to 10,000 euros.
- To promote eco-friendliness, the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) advises using approved self-service car washes for car washing, as they properly pre-clean, separate, and discharge pollutants, and use recycled water from an internal cycle, reducing overall water usage.
