Sundays, Cars, and Cleanliness: A Never-Ending Debate
Dirty car remains on Sunday. - Each Sunday, the vehicle remains unwashed.
Cleaning up your ride on a free Sunday? Think again if you're in Rhineland-Palatinate! While neighbors like Hesse have already given the green light to Sunday car washes, critics in this state snort and call for a change.
The fuel station association views the Sunday car wash ban as an old-fashioned relic. After all, they're busy operating on Sundays, and many car washes run automated. Plus, in many European countries, car cleaning is a fate left to the daily calendar.
Small Business Woes
The ban means many small filling station operators in Rhineland-Palatinate, Baden-Württemberg, Saarland, and other states could be looking at an annual loss of 5,000 to 10,000 euros, the association predicts.
But there's more to it than just profit—there's also the environmental aspect. Car washes are water-saving and eco-friendly alternatives to at-home washing, which burdens local sewage systems or even directly harms the environment.
No Word from the Minister President
The association has requested a chat with Rhineland-Palatinate's Minister President Alexander Schweitzer (SPD) on the matter, but he's yet to respond or set up a meeting, according to reports.
Legally, car washing is pretty regulated: It's prohibited in gardens or on unpaved surfaces, and fines may be issued. But if washing occurs on paved surfaces or the roadside, it's up to local municipalities to decide what's allowed.
Chemicals and the Groundwater
Even when clear water is used, the resulting wastewater contains chemical compounds that can hurt groundwater. If you live in Rhineland-Palatinate, the environmental association BUND recommends using approved self-service car washes and car washes.
Prefer short programs at the car wash, they advise, as they're friendlier to the environment than home car washes, using recycled water and reducing overall water consumption.
The Law and the Union
Rhineland-Palatinate's Interior Ministry remains firm on the ban, citing the state law on the protection of Sundays and public holidays. Not only is car washing prohibited, but any activities that disturb the peace or even contradict the spirit of Sundays and public holidays are off-limits.
Unions such as the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) also support the ban, viewing Sunday as precious time for rest, relaxation, and leisure activities.
A Fresh Approach Needed
State parliamentarian Stephan Wefelscheid, from the Free Democrats, argues that the ban on car washing on Sundays is outdated. Most modern car washes are standalone and located away from residential areas, he points out.
"In a time when both partners increasingly have to work and there's hardly time for shopping, haircuts, or the like, such restrictions are no longer up-to-date but a relic of a different era," Wefelscheid argued.
He calls for a fresh approach to the ban by the state government and evaluation of its necessity, much like the fuel station interest group has suggested.
- In light of the ongoing debate, the association advocates for a reconsideration of Rhineland-Palatinate's community policy regarding vocational training, as many small business owners are facing financial losses due to the Sunday car wash ban, and eco-friendly car washes could provide a solution for both economic and environmental concerns.
- As the issue of Sunday car washing continues to divide opinions, it is worth considering alternative leisure activities that align with the spirit of Sundays, such as vocational training and education, which could enhance one's lifestyle while contributing positively to the home-and-garden and automotive sectors.
