8 Weird Laws In Germany

BrRRrrRrmMNMmM bBrrrRRrrMm bbBBbbbbrrRrrBrrmmmMmmMMMMmmMmMmMmm on and on and on and on the lawn mower hums. If you know that sound, you know how that specific loud sound can fill a quiet neighborhood.

Where I’m from, you can use your mower whenever you want. And that means you’re free to use it in the morning (which a lot of people do) or the afternoon (only some people do) or the evening (this doesn’t really happen that much), any day of the week.

However, that’s not the case in Germany. And what I mean by that is that mowing the lawn on Sundays is a no-go. That’s because Sundays are meant for peace and quiet, and as you can imagine, a lawn mower isn’t really associated with peace and quiet. Unless, of course, the mower is more of a whisper-quiet lawn mower.

8 Weird Laws You Should Know

1. Autobahn Fuel: Running out of fuel while driving on the autobahn is illegal. It is even considered negligent and irresponsible, and can result in fines for drivers.
2. Ruhetag (Rest Day): Since Sundays are meant for peace and quiet and rest, this means no mowing the lawn or vacuuming or making any loud noises on Sundays.
3. Recycling Rules: Recycling incorrectly is prohibited. Inappropriately mixing recyclables with trash and other stuff might result in fines.
4. Quiet Hours: Playing an instrument after midnight is a big no-no. Only play an instrument or tune a piano in the allowed time frames, usually between 8:00 to 12:00 (noon) and 14:00 (2pm) to 20:00 (8pm).
5. Tanzverbot: This is a German term that means "dancing ban." It refers to the dancing ban on religious holidays like Good Friday and All Saints’ Day, which are considered "silent days."
6. Formal Addressing: German police officers must be addressed respectfully. Please make sure to address an officer with the formal “Sie” instead of the informal “Du.”
7. Car Washing: Your car must be washed only at a professional car wash, as home washing can let harmful chemicals leak into the groundwater system.
8. Blue Laws: Sunday alcohol sales for hard goods are restricted as part of Germany’s blue laws, which keep stores closed on Sundays and religious holidays.