In the chilly Heidenheim district, Sandra Wendt and Dennis Incalcaterra, donning their "Ordnungsamt"-emblazoned jackets, are not always met with warm welcomes. But during the festive season of Advent, their encounters transform into jovial exchanges, as they bestow chocolate treats upon motorists who park their vehicles correctly.
Marco Valentini, a grateful recipient, shares, "I was thrilled not to receive a parking ticket here! They're welcome to come back at Easter and hand out bunnies instead." The campaign, a novel concept introduced by Mayor Dieter Henle, seeks to reveal a less stern side of public order services during the holiday season.
While Henle cannot quantify the impact on parking behavior, the feedback is positive. The idea of handing out chocolate tickets as a gesture of appreciation for proper parking began in 2018, after the suggestion from the city's Fairtrade steering group. The bag containing the city's Advent greeting includes a piece of fair-trade chocolate, which costs the city approximately 20 euros.
Sandra Wendt and Dennis Incalcaterra distribute around 1,000 of these sweet parking tickets during the campaign week. However, it's not all sunshine and chocolate. Parking violations still result in fines during this festive period.
"Once a year, it's acceptable to reward with chocolate," says Dennis Incalcaterra, a public order department employee. "Otherwise, obeying rules is praise enough." Miss Wendt echoes his sentiments, emphasizing the importance of adhering to traffic regulations.
As for parking fees in Giengen, the city exceptionally offers affordability, boasting free parking spaces, only requiring the insertion of a parking disk.
Additional Insight: While the practice of replacing parking tickets with chocolates isn't commonplace, cities may offer seasonal promotions or discounts, encouraging responsible parking behavior. To discover such events, explore city-specific news and event calendars.
For instance, Bloomingdale's in New York City hosts various in-store events but lacks the mentioned chocolate ticket tradition in the provided sources.
