Town Residents Push for Unique License Plates, Local CSU Politicians Promise Backing
In the picturesque town of Zirndorf, located in Bavaria, Germany, a unique initiative is underway to secure a distinctive identity for its vehicles. However, the path to achieving this goal is fraught with legal complexities.
Currently, the continued use of the "FÜ" license plate signifies the legal status quo for Zirndorf. This is because vehicle registration plates in Germany are generally issued and regulated by the district (Kreis) or city vehicle registration offices. As such, smaller towns like Zirndorf do not have independent vehicle plate codes unless they correspond to a recognized district or city code.
Zirndorf's ambition, however, is to display its abbreviation on number plates. This goal has found support from Petra Guttenberger, a Fürth CSU state parliamentarian, who believes that having its own license plate would strengthen the citizens' bond with their city.
To make this a reality, an amendment to the Vehicle Registration Regulation (FZV) would be necessary. Guttenberger has already contacted the Bavarian Minister of Housing, Building and Transport, Christian Bernreiter, to support Zirndorf's request at the federal level.
However, there is no publicly available information indicating an upcoming change or a legal provision that would allow Zirndorf to obtain its own vehicle registration code plate independently. The current regulations regarding city-specific vehicle registration plates are seen by Guttenberger as outdated, but she no longer sees earlier concerns about confusion as an obstacle in the digital age and with artificial intelligence.
The uncertainty surrounding the change in the law indicates a potential lengthy process. Currently, cities with at least 20,000 inhabitants can use their own abbreviation on plates only if the abbreviation is from an "old" license plate (pre-territorial reform). Unfortunately, Zirndorf does not meet this condition.
Until a change in the law occurs, vehicles in Zirndorf will continue to display the "FÜ" license plate. In the meantime, if you want to register a car in Zirndorf, you would register it at the district registration office associated with Zirndorf’s area, and the plates would carry that district's identifier rather than a unique Zirndorf code.
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- In order to secure a unique identity for their vehicles, Zirndorf is advocating for a policy change in policy-and-legislation related to vehicle registration plates, which could potentially be influenced by politics and general news.
- The current legal complexities surrounding city-specific vehicle registration plates, seen as outdated by Fürth CSU state parliamentarian Petra Guttenberger, may cause a lengthy process for smaller towns like Zirndorf to obtain their own vehicle registration code plates independently.
