Washing Cars on Sundays: A Contentious Issue in Rhineland-Palatinate
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Dirty car remains unattended on Sunday. - Dirt remains unfazed on automobiles every Sunday.
Sunday car washes? Not so fast in Rhineland-Palatinate! Neighboring states like Hesse, however, allow a good scrub and polish for your ride on this day. Critics snicker, calling for a review of the existing legislation in regions such as Neuwied, Bitburg, Mainz, and Pirmasens.
For the petrol station association, the Sunday car wash ban seems a relic of the past. After all, work continues at petrol stations on Sundays, and plenty of car washes function without staff. Moreover, across various European neighboring countries, individuals have their pick of wash day.
Losses for SMEs
The ban in Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, Saarland, and other states forces smaller filling station operators to brace for an annual profit loss of around 5,000 to 10,000 euros, the association warns.
Environment also at stake
Water-saving car washes trump any home car wash when it comes to preserving the environment, the association asserts. At-home washings can burden local sewage systems or directly harm the environment.
Conversation with the Minister President on hold
The association has requested a meeting with Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister President, Alexander Schweitzer (SPD), but to no avail. They've received neither a response to their letter nor an invitation for conversation, according to a spokesperson for the German Press Agency in Mainz.
Under the Water Resources Act, car washing is prohibited in the garden or on other unpaved surfaces, and a fine is threatened.
Chemicals in water
Even when only clear water is used, the wastewater contains chemical substances that can harm groundwater, the German Association for Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) in Rhineland-Palatinate explains.
Local regulations determine washing on paved surfaces or at the roadside, so query responsible authorities for details.
BUND supports car washes
The environmental association urges using approved self-service car washes and car washes for washing cars when possible. This ensures proper pre-cleaning, separation, and disposal of pollutants.
A short program is better off in terms of a full wash, as car washes use recycled water and reduce overall water consumption, the BUND advises.
Car washes and car wash places are prohibited from operating on Sundays and public holidays due to the state law on the protection of Sundays and public holidays, according to Rhineland-Palatinate's Interior Ministry. This stems from the aim of maintaining the significance of Sunday as a day of rest.
Trade unions and car wash advocates believe Sundays are vital for rest, relaxation, and personal time, citing efforts by the DGB and Koblenz state parliamentarian Stephan Wefelscheid to modernize the legislation. Wefelscheid calls for reevaluating the ban on car washing on Sundays.
- In the discussion surrounding car washing on Sundays in Rhineland-Palatinate, the petrol station association argues that the Sunday ban on car washes is an outdated relic and hinders smaller filling station operators from generating annual profits of around 5,000 to 10,000 euros.
- The German Association for Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) in Rhineland-Palatinate encourages the use of approved self-service car washes and car washes for washing cars, as they ensure proper pre-cleaning, separation, and disposal of pollutants to protect the environment.
- The ban on car washing on Sundays and public holidays is enforced under Rhineland-Palatinate's state law on the protection of Sundays and public holidays, with the aim of preserving the significance of Sunday as a day of rest.
- Despite the ongoing contention and requests for a meeting from the petrol station association to discuss the Sunday car wash ban with Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister President, Alexander Schweitzer (SPD), there has been no response or invitation for conversation.
