Stuck in the Mud on Sundays: Rhineland-Palatinate's Car Wash Saga
Dirty car remains unsullied on Sunday. - Every Sunday, the vehicle remains uncleaned.
Got a hankering to spruce up your ride on a Sunday? Not so fast, Rhineland-Palatinate residents. Unlike its neighbors, scrubbing and polishing is a no-go in this Federal state. But why, you ask? Let's delve into the muddy waters of this controversial car wash ban.
Quick, grab the sponge and bucket - not so fast! In Rhineland-Palatinate, you'll have to wait for another day. In other federal states, however, like Hesse, car enthusiasts can already get their vehicles gleaming seven days a week. The lingering question: why the distinction? Critics are chomping at the bit, pushing for a shift in the current car wash legal landscape encompassing cities such as Neuwied, Bitburg, Mainz, and Pirmasens.
The filling station association views the Sunday car wash ban as an outdated relic of the past. Work is, after all, conducted at filling stations daily, and many car washes operate without staff. Moreover, in many European countries, people have the flexibility to choose their car wash day, the association argues.
A potential financial burden: mid-sized filling station operators in Rhineland-Palatinate and other states anticipate an annual profit loss of approximately 5,000 to 10,000 euros due to the ban, the association warns.
But there's more to this soap opera than profit margins. The environmental angle is prominent: Car washes offer significant water savings and are more eco-friendly than home washes, which can burden sewage systems and, in the worst-case scenario, harm the environment directly, the association contends.
The dance with the Minister-President has initiated, but the partnership has yet to see the light of day. To date, the Minister-President, Alexander Schweitzer (SPD), has neither responded to a request for discussion nor extended an invitation for a meeting, a German Press Agency spokesperson in Mainz has reported.
Regulations concerning where and when car washing is permitted are largely dictated by law: Car washing is barred in gardens or on unpaved surfaces, according to the Water Resources Act, and fines are threatened.
Mind the Chemicals in the Water
Even when using only clear water, the wastewater produced from car washes contains chemical substances and compounds that can damage groundwater, explains the German Federal Environmental Agency (BUND) in Rhineland-Palatinate. The situation depends on whether the ground is paved or washing is done on the roadside; cities determine the permissible activities in these cases, according to the BUND.
BUND Side-Approval on Car Washes
If you're car washing enthusiast, environmental-friendly approved self-service car washes and car wash lanes are the recommended choice, the BUND advises. Here, pollutants are properly pre-cleaned, separated, and discharged. When opting for a full wash, the car wash performs significantly better than a garden hose, as car washes employ prepared water from an internal circuit, reducing overall water consumption.
Laws of the Land: Car washes on Sundays and Holidays are Forbidden
The Rhineland-Palatinate Interior Ministry recently reiterated that operating car washes and car wash lanes on Sundays and public holidays is prohibited. The prohibition is based on the state law protecting Sundays and public holidays. Any publicly visible activities that disturb external peace or contradict the nature of these days are banned, including operating car washes and car wash lanes, the ministry explains.
Sunday: More Than a Room for Church
Sunday car washes already carry a clear, everyday character, with the intention to profit. The significance of Sunday as a day of general rest, separated from any decline in the social importance of churches, is underscored, critics insist.
The German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) echoes this sentiment: "Sunday is a day of rest, a time for relaxation, family, friends, and voluntary engagement," emphasized the chairwoman, Susanne Wingertszahn. Therefore, Sunday remains legally protected, according to the DGB.
A Shift in the Status Quo: Political Discussion Needed
"Car washing can be done on any other day - except Sunday," says the DGB chief. The trade unions are advocating for the day of rest. "It's about employees using their own time self-determined."
The Coblenz state parliamentarian of the Free Democrats, Stephan Wefelscheid, posits that the ban on car washing on Sundays is no longer relevant. Most car washes operate away from residential areas, and many are already self-service. "I cannot see how a self-service car wash in an industrial area could significantly disturb the external peace,"Wefelscheid critiques.
"In a society where both partners have to work increasingly, with hardly any time left for weekly shopping, hairdresser appointments, or the like, such restrictions are outdated, a relic of a time before secularization," Wefelscheid contends. He calls for a change in perspective from the state government and an evaluation of the ban, much like the petrol station interest group.
- In contrast to Rhineland-Palatinate, car enthusiasts in neighboring Hesse can get their vehicles cleaned up seven days a week, stirring debate about a potential shift in the car wash legal landscape.
- The filling station association contends that the Sunday car wash ban is an outdated relic of the past, arguing that car washes often operate without staff and people should have the flexibility to choose their car wash day.
- The environmental angle is prominent in the discussion: Car washes offer significant water savings and are more eco-friendly than home washes, reducing overall water consumption and minimizing damage to sewage systems and the environment.
- Yet, the Minister-President, Alexander Schweitzer (SPD), has neither responded to a request for discussion nor extended an invitation for a meeting, leaving the future of changes to the car wash ban uncertain.
- Critics like the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) argue that Sunday remains a legally protected day of rest, emphasizing its significance as a time for relaxation, family, and personal activities.
