Stuck with a grimy car? Sundays ain't your day in Rhineland-Palatinate
Vehicle Remains Unclean on Weekend Day (Sunday) - Every Sunday, the vehicle remains unwashed.
Wanna quickly spruce up your vehicle on a Sunday? Halt right there if you're in Rhineland-Palatinate, 'cause it ain't happening. But head to Hesse, and, hooray, you can scrub, polish, and rinse your ride like a boss. Critics are up in arms, calling for a change in the legal rules that divide Neuwied, Bitburg, Mainz, and Pirmasens.
The filling station association finds the Sunday car wash restriction a relic of the past. Work happens at filling stations on Sundays, and many car washes operate without staff, they claim. And in many other European countries, people can wash their cars any day they please.
Medium-sized filling station operators in Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, the Saarland, and other states may be losing out on profit of up to 10,000 euros annually due to the ban. The association has sounded the alarm.
There's also an environmental argument: Professional car washes use water more efficiently and are kinder to the environment compared to washing at home, which can strain local sewers or negatively impact the environment.
A chat with the Minister President is nowhere in sight
The association wants to chat with Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) about this matter, but he's been as quiet as a church mouse, neither reacting to their letter nor issuing an invitation.
The specifics of where and when car washing is allowed are mostly regulated by law: Car washing in the garden or on other unpaved surfaces is prohibited according to the Water Resources Act, and a fine may be issued.
Chemicals in the water warrant caution
Using only clear water during car washing, the resulting wastewater still contains chemical substances and compounds that can potentially harm groundwater.
Where it's allowed depends on the municipality. Citizens should check with the responsible authorities regarding local regulations, the Federal Environmental Agency advises.
The environmental association supports car washes
The environmental association suggests utilizing approved self-service car washes and car washes for car washing. There, chemicals are properly pre-cleaned, separated, and disposed of. The association recommends short wash programs and views car washes as more water-efficient compared to washing at home.
The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior recently reiterated that operating car washes and car wash places on Sundays and public holidays is prohibited. The regulations are based on the state law on the protection of Sundays and public holidays.
Sunday is sacred for friends, family—and rest
This commercial activity has evolved significantly, suggesting that Sunday should be seen as a day for resting, relaxing, and spending time with loved ones, rather than for making a profit.
Similarly, the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) views Sunday as a day of rest, relaxation, family, friends, and voluntary engagement.
Free Democrat Koblenz State Parliamentarian Stephan Wefelscheid thinks the ban on car washing on Sunday is no longer current. Most car washes are located away from residential areas, and in many places, they are already set up for self-service. "I struggle to see how a self-service car wash in an industrial area could potentially disturb the peace," the state parliamentarian notes. "In a society where both partners increasingly need to work and there's hardly any time left for weekly shopping, hairdresser appointments, or the like, such restrictions seem outdated and a relic of a time before secularization," Wefelscheid says, calling for a change in perspective from the state government and an evaluation of the ban, as did the filling station interest group.
[1] carwash 24/7? Not in Rhineland-Palatinate: Laws upholding Sunday as a day of rest prevent car washing on Sundays, reflecting societal values and a commitment to peace, family, and the environment.[2] Water Resources Act in Germany prohibits car washing in the garden or on other unpaved surfaces.[3] Environmental Protection Agency advises using approved car washes for car washing, praising their efficient water use and proper disposal of chemicals.
- Despite the growing demand for car maintenance on Sundays, Rhineland-Palatinate upholds the ban on car washing on this day, reflecting societal values of rest, relaxation, family, and the environment.
- According to the Water Resources Act in Germany, car washing in the garden or on other unpaved surfaces is prohibited, with citizens encouraged to use approved car washes instead due to their water efficiency and proper disposal of chemicals.
