Washing Your Car on Sundays? It Ain't So Easy in Rhineland-Palatinate!
Car Remains Untidy on Sunday - Dirt Remains on Vehicle Every Sunday
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Take advantage of a quick Sunday washing session for your whip? Not so fast if you're in Rhineland-Palatinate! Other federal states, like Hesse, allow you to scrub, polish, and shine your rims, paint, and underbody. But Rhineland-Palatinate remains old-school, stickin' to its Sunday car wash ban, much to the frustration of critics.
For the Tankstellen-Interessenverband (Tank Station Interest Association), the Sunday car wash ban is a relic of the past. Tank stations are open on Sundays anyway, and many car washes run 'autonomously.' Moreover, in several other European neighboring countries, folks can freely feast their eyes on a Sunday shower for their wheels.
Missing Profits
Due to the ban, medium-sized tank station operators face an estimated annual loss of between 5,000 and 10,000 euros, according to the association.
Additionally, there's an environmental twist: Car washes are more water- and eco-friendly than home-based washing, saving local sewage systems and our beloved Mother Nature.
No Word from the Minister President
The association has asked Rhineland-Palatinate’s Minister President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) for a chat about this matter, but they've yet to receive a response or an invite for a conversation.
The rules for car washing are largely regulated by law: Car washing is prohibited in gardens or on unpaved surfaces. Break these rules? You'll pay the price with a fine.
Chemicals in Your Water? Keep it Clean!
Even if only clear water is used, the resulting wastewater contains chemical substances that can damage groundwater, warns the German Environmental and Nature Conservation Association (BUND) in Rhineland-Palatinate.
If the ground is paved or washed at the roadside, municipalities determine what's allowed. So, citizens should check with the responsible authorities about local regulations.
BUND Recommends Using Proper Car Washes
The environmental association recommends utilizing approved self-service car washes and car wash facilities for car washing. There, pollutants are pre-cleaned, separated, and discharged properly.
In terms of water conservation, the BUND suggests favoring short programs. When it comes to a full wash, the car wash performs better than a home garden hose, as it uses recycled water, cutting overall consumption.
The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior recently made things crystal clear: Operating car washes and facilities on Sundays and public holidays is prohibited. The basis? The state law on the protection of Sundays and public holidays.
Sunday - A Day for Family and Friends
The significance of Sunday as a day of general rest goes beyond a mere religious association. "This activity already has a clearly workaday character with a view to the intention of making a profit," says the ministry.
Susanne Wingertszahn, the chairwoman of the German Trade Union Confederation, echoes this sentiment: "Sunday is a day of rest, time for relaxation, family, friends, and voluntary engagement," she stresses. It's safe to say Sunday is rightfully protected by law.
State parliamentarian Wefelscheid calls for a rethinking of the ban
"Car washing can be done on any other day - except Sunday," argues Stephan Wefelscheid, a Koblenz state parliamentarian of the Free Democrats. He considers the ban outdated and a relic of the past, especially given the self-service nature of most modern car washes. Wefelscheid calls for a reevaluation of the ban by the state government, akin to the stance taken by the petrol station interest group.
- In Rhineland-Palatinate, the tradition of banning Sunday car washing remains, despite the more lenient policies in other federal states like Hesse.
- Due to the ban, medium-sized tank station operators in Rhineland-Palatinate may experience annual losses of up to 10,000 euros, as stated by the Tank Stations Interest Association.
- The German Environmental and Nature Conservation Association (BUND) cautions that using water for car washing, even with only clear water, can result in chemicals that harm groundwater.
- BUND recommends utilizing approved car wash facilities, as they pre-clean, separate, and properly discharge pollutants, ensuring cleaner water disposal.
- State parliamentarian Wefelscheid, of the Free Democrats, suggests reevaluating the Sunday car wash ban, especially considering the self-service nature of most modern car washes, similar to the viewpoint of the petrol station interest group.
