In the heart of Giengen an der Brenz, Baden-Württemberg, a duo named Sandra Wendt and Dennis Incalcaterra are turning heads. Clad in "Ordnungsamt" jackets, they've been known to elicit curious and often hostile reactions. But these days, their encounters have a different outcome - laughter. The reason? They're dispensing chocolates to drivers who park considerately during the festive season.
Take Marco Valentini, for instance. Driving through Giengen, he found a delightful surprise. He had parked his car correctly and found an Advent greeting and a piece of chocolate on his windshield. His reaction? "They're free to hand out bunnies at Easter!" Sure enough, Valentini had gained a fresh perspective on the public order service.
Positive resonance
Mayor Dieter Henle echoes Valentini's sentiments. The campaign, as he sees it, is an opportunity to show a gentler side of the public order office during the festive season. Henle admits that he's yet to see a tangible impact on parking habits due to the campaign, as the city doesn't keep such statistics. However, the feedback from the public has been overwhelmingly positive.
Henle started the sweetened parking ticket tradition in 2018, with a pause in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. Each chocolate token costs the city around 20 euros, with Henle personally sponsoring the sweets.
A national trend
Giengen isn't the only city spreading sweetness instead of fines during the festive seasons. Cities across Germany have also adopted this sentimental gesture, including sweet parking tickets during Christmas and Easter. In Giengen alone, Wendt and Incalcaterra manage to hand out approximately 1000 chocolates during the campaign week.
On the flip side, the city maintains its strict parking norms for the rest of the year, with traffic violators still facing the standard consequences. Incalcaterra, a public order department member, emphasizes the importance of following the Highway Code, even during the city's generous gestures.
- Cities in Germany do not typically offer chocolate or other rewards for proper parking during festive seasons. While some events may offer treats as part of their promotions, this is not a widespread practice related to parking enforcement. (Enrichment Data)
