Self-painted zebra crossing: the police speak of a "serious crime"

Created: 03/29/2022, 10:05 am

By: Sebastian Oppenheimer

In a 2,500-person community in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, unknown persons have painted a zebra crossing on the street - now the police are investigating.

Niepars – Ever heard of a FGÜ?

No?

This is the official abbreviation for a pedestrian crossing - better known in everyday life as a zebra crossing.

What very few people know: in the past, the zebra crossing was actually called “Dickstrichkette” in official German.

Regardless of the name, a zebra crossing should enable safe crossing of the street - which is why appropriate signage is usually required.

In addition, the curb at a zebra crossing is usually sloped so that it is easy to cross with a wheelchair or a stroller.

In Niepars (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), someone obviously urgently wanted a zebra crossing - and without further ado painted it themselves, as reported by 24auto.de.

Self-painted zebra crossing: the police speak of a "serious crime"

He or the strangers painted five white stripes on Landstraße 21 – presumably with a paint roller.

The strips are one meter wide and three meters long.

There was a similar case some time ago in Hanover - here a 51-year-old took action and also painted a zebra crossing on the street.

As reported by the Stralsund police, the residents of the 2,500-person community of Niepars have been demanding a pedestrian crossing at this point "for some time".

In Niepars, strangers have painted a zebra crossing on the street - now the criminal police are investigating.

© Police Stralsund

Self-painted zebra crossing: Perpetrators face imprisonment of up to five years

It is possible that the perpetrator or perpetrators were not fully aware of the consequences of their actions - because they are now threatened with serious trouble.

Because even if it initially looks like a "funny children's prank", it is a "serious crime", writes the police.

It faces a prison sentence of up to five years.

In a village in Hesse, residents had resorted to a trick to slow down speeders on their street - but there are arguments online as to whether this is really legal.

According to an initial estimate, the damage is around 500 euros, and the paint strips are now to be removed.

The criminal police have now started investigations on suspicion of dangerous intervention in road traffic - and are looking for witnesses.