Soapin' Sundays: The Car Wash conundrum in Rhineland-Palatinate
Vehicle Remains Unclean on Weekly Basis, Specifically Sundays - Each Sunday, the vehicle remains unwashed.
Roll up those sleeves! A quick weekend car wash in some regions like Rhineland-Palatinate is like chasing a ghost. On the other hand, neighbors like Hesse let you get scrubbing and gleaming. Critics voice their discontent, demanding a change in the outdated Sunday car wash ban.
The Filling Station Association considers the ban a relic of the past. After all, they're working on Sundays, and many car washes operate without staff. Moreover, folks in several European countries can choose their car wash day freely.
The financial impact on small businesses
Small business owners in Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, the Saarland, and other states hit by the ban may lose between 5,000 and 10,000 euros annually, warns the Association.
Save water, save the planet?
There's an environmental aspect to consider too. Car washes are significantly more water-efficient than home car washes, which can burden local sewers or harm the environment directly.
Ignored pleas for conversation
The Association has requested a chat with Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) about this issue. But, alas, no response nor invitation for a conversation has been received.
Legal complexities
When and where car washing is allowed is primarily governed by law. Car washing is forbidden in gardens or on unpaved areas, with fines for violations.
Chemicals in the wash
Even using only clear water, the resulting wastewater contains chemical compounds that can harm groundwater. Car washes on paved areas or alongside roads are left to local municipalities to decide.
The environmental association's take
The environmental association recommends using approved self-service car washes or professional car washes for washing cars. Pollutants are properly pre-cleaned, separated, and discharged at these facilities.
Short and sweet programs
The environmental association advises choosing shorter programs when using a car wash. A full wash at a car wash consumes less water than a home garden hose, thanks to recycled water from an internal circuit.
The law clarifies the situation
The Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of the Interior recently reaffirmed that operating car washes and car wash places on Sundays and public holidays is prohibited, based on the state law on the protection of Sundays and public holidays.
Sunday: A day for rest and relaxation
Critics argue that car washing has a workday character and contradicts the essence of Sundays as a day of general rest. This view is shared by trade unions, who champion Sunday as a day for relaxation, family, and social engagement.
A call for reconsideration
Koblenz state parliamentarian Stephan Wefelscheid finds the ban on Sunday car washing outdated. He believes self-service car washes located away from residential areas can't disturb the outer peace. Wefelscheid calls for a change in the state government's thinking and an evaluation of the ban, as does the filling station interest group.
- The Filling Station Association, disagreeing with the Sunday car wash ban in Rhineland-Palatinate, considers it a relic of the past, as the association operates on Sundays and many car washes function without staff.
- The environmental association advocates for the use of approved self-service car washes or professional car washes for washing cars, as these facilities properly pre-clean, separate, and discharge pollutants.
- Stephan Wefelscheid, a member of the Koblenz state parliament, opinions the ban on Sunday car washing outdated and calls for a change in the state government's thinking, suggesting that self-service car washes located away from residential areas can't disrupt peace.
- The Association warns that small business owners in states affected by the ban, such as Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, and the Saarland, could potentially lose between 5,000 and 10,000 euros annually due to the Sunday car wash ban.