As of: March 17, 2024, 5:23 a.m
By: Lisa Mariella Löw, Bernhard Pelka
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Otmar snorts in front of his trailer, which he has to drag to the other side of the street to hitch up because of the parking ban in front of his house.
© Bernhard Pelka
Because he brought crates of water to his sick parents while standing in a no-parking zone, a man from Rodgau in Hesse is due a fine of 55 euros.
Update from March 13th, 5:40 p.m.:
Anyone who illegally parks their car on the sidewalk in Rodgau will pay dearly for their parking space - even if they only stand there for a few minutes.
Otmar Schnaubelt learned this when he brought crates of water to his parents in Jügesheim, who were in poor health.
A fine of 55 euros was due for the Mercedes that was parked on the sidewalk for four minutes.
The city's press spokeswoman confirmed: Anyone who is in an absolute no-parking zone is acting “wrong from the first second”.
There is no room for discretion: “It would make more sense to work with the city to find a better solution for the residents,” comments a reader under the article on op-online.de.
Another reader does not suspect any malicious reasons for parking on the sidewalk instead of on the street: “You don't want to hinder anyone.” Others see a danger for pedestrians, people with walkers and strollers who would have to move onto the road.
This would also hinder ambulances and fire departments on their way to the emergency scene.
A driver described a similar situation on Heidelberger Straße in Nieder-Roden via email.
She also unloaded her purchases for four minutes - but a parking ticket still landed in her mailbox.
The public order office rejected the objection and also imposed a fine on her.
In the end she paid 83.50 euros.
Her particular annoyance: "On other days, the police drive carelessly past the 'incorrect parkers', as I observed."
According to the federal catalog of fines, parking on the sidewalk is generally prohibited, including for loading and unloading.
However, municipalities have the option of issuing exemptions, for example for delivery or supply services as well as trades.
Mineral water for parents is becoming an expensive affair
First report from March 13th, 9:35 a.m.:
Rodgau-Jügesheim - Otmar Schnaubelt feels harassed by the city's regulatory authorities.
The former authorized representative of a large financial institution is said to have to pay a fine of 55 euros because a car registered to him was illegally parked on the sidewalk for a few minutes.
The administrative offense proceedings got rolling after Schnaubelt's son parked in a car registered to his father in front of his parents' house at Wasserfallstrasse 11B in Rodgau (Offenbach district) from 6:34 p.m. to 6:38 p.m. in February.
The son quickly brought a few cases of mineral water into the house to help his parents, who were in poor health after operations - and drove away without noticing that it had been written down.
Otmar Schnaubelt thinks it is “petty and brazen” to immediately collect a warning fine because of such an issue.
“There is a construction site opposite our house.
There are always craftsman cars there.
You can hardly ever park there,” says the pensioner, describing the predicament.
Nevertheless, there is actually an absolute no-parking policy in front of Schnaubelt's house.
In addition, parking on sidewalks is generally prohibited in Rodgau in order to create space for pedestrians, children, seniors and the disabled.
The bans have far-reaching consequences for the 67-year-old.
There is a trailer on his property.
It is loaded regularly.
The Rodgauer then couples the trailer to his car. If the man strictly followed the city's prohibitions, that would mean he would have to drag his trailer to the other side of the street for this procedure in order to couple it there in accordance with the rules.
Because that's the only place where parking is allowed.
“That’s crazy.”
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Parking on the sidewalk costs a fine of 55 euros.
Even if it's just minutes.
© Bernhard Pelka
In response to a request from our newspaper, the public order authority in the town hall informed our newspaper through a city press spokeswoman that there was no scope for discretion in this case.
Neither when it comes to the minute ticket nor when it comes to trailers.
Anyone who is absolutely not allowed to stop is acting “wrong from the first second”.
And Mr Schnaubelt still has the option of coupling the trailer on his own property.
According to his own statements, the Jügesheimer is not alone with the annoyance of minute fines.
A neighbor had a similar experience not far from the Shell gas station on Weiskircher Strasse.
She only waited a few minutes on the side of the road until the space at the gas station was free so she could add air to the tires: a parking ticket.
Schnaubelt is now seeking legal advice.
“I have an appointment next week.” (Bernhard Pelka)
Long history
Since mid-2022, the public order police have been gradually and consistently punishing illegal sidewalk parking on more and more local streets.
It had been quietly tolerated for decades.
Until November 2021, parking on the sidewalk cost exactly 20 euros (30 euros with disabilities).
Since 2022 it has cost 55 euros (with disabilities 70 euros).
The city is only allowed to collect warning fines of up to 55 euros.
Anything beyond that will be collected by the fines office at the Kassel regional council.
In October 2022, Wasserfallstraße, where Otmar Schnaubelt lives, was one of the streets in Rodgau where the city bus number 40 could no longer get through due to illegal parking.
In response to the strict punishment for parking on sidewalks, drivers parked their vehicles on the road without observing the legal minimum distances.
The bus was blocked.
The city responded by introducing a unilateral, absolute parking ban.
Speed controls and sidewalk parking: In Rodgau, the amount the city has collected from fines is now six figures.