German laws: 6 surprising things that are forbidden in Germany | Meet the Germans

It's no secret that Germans love rules. But some surprising things can get you into trouble here. Don't worry – Rachel is here to keep you on the right side of the law!

Rachel moved from the UK to Germany in 2016. As a relative newcomer she casts a fresh eye over German clichés and shares her experiences of settling into German life. Every two weeks she explores a new topic – from saunas to asparagus or the ins and outs of German small talk.

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[hardcorehardo]

The moment I felt the most german in my entire life was when I waited for my light to turn green at a pedestrian crossing in the middle of the night with no car in sight

[lamperouge]

Actually on Sundays, it's not about "not dancing and hammering", it is about the noise you make. You can dance as much as you want to, as long your neighbors aren't disturbed.

[whattheflyingfuck...]

Mimicking uniformed people is forbidden in Germany too. That is why she wears a US-american police hat.

[derhensler]

Crazy how much I learn from these videos as a German.

[undogmatisch]

But, it is not illegal to break out of prison, as long as you don't break other laws.

[martinstent]

An important German law that most countries don’t have is “Unterlassene Hilfeleistung” or “duty to rescue”. If you see someone in trouble who needs help, you must, by law, try to help them. Example: If you see an accident on the roadside where someone is injured. You must stop, call an ambulance and apply first aid till help arrives. Just driving by is an offence.

[ottovonbismarck]

The "no-noise-rule" on Sundays is very simple to circumvent: just invite your neighbors to the party.

[__________________________---_]

in Germany we call it "ICH MUSS MORGEN AUCH ARBEITEN"

[Snickersboy]

As I German I feel like I live in the only country where traffic lights mean anything.

[donrosscojoe]

Seems a bit strange, until you learn that in South Dakota USA
"it is illegal to fall asleep in a cheese factory"

[SloMo]

I once had my old German roommate who I was visiting notice that I had washed my rented Golf GTI Turbo at his house while he was working.He let me have a peace of his mind when I told him that I washed it at his house.I asked him where did he go to clean his car and he told me a car wash near by. I went there and after paying the price which I thought was too much, I felt their government had overstepped their authority and told him so. Then I went to the Rhine river which the water was brown when I lived there in the 70"s with my buddy. I was amazing at how clean the water was and told him how wrong I was about washing ones car at their home. Sometimes it's good to be wrong! All the best from California

[gengis]

There is a funny video in youtube : in one of Berlin parks, a German explain very seriously to one British/American all these rules of social behaviour that no German would infringe.
Meanwhile in the background a German man strip completely naked to have a sunbath in public. The British/American is totally shocked, the German speaker look back and says quietly : "No problem, this is allowed in Germany".

[paxundpeace]

But nobody cares about this until someone complain about this.

[ThePhilNews]

If harmful names are really banned then why are there so many Kevins running around in schools?

[faiqahmad]

As a person from South Asia I found these laws extremely ridiculous in the beginning but honestly won't dare to break them. God Bless Deutschland.

[peterstadlmaier]

In Germany it is even forbidden to detonate a nuclear bomb. Spassbremsen!

§ 328 Strafgesetzbuch, Abs. 2:
Mit Freiheitsstrafe bis zu fünf Jahren oder mit Geldstrafe wird bestraft, wer [...]

3) eine nukleare Explosion verursacht oder einen anderen zu einer in Nummer 3 bezeichneten Handlung verleitet oder eine solche Handlung fördert.
4) einen anderen zu einer in Nummer 3 bezeichneten Handlung verleitet oder eine solche Handlung fördert.

[JBdiGriz]

Not to forget: You're not allowed to run out of gas on the autobahn.

[kimbboble]

YOU DON'T WALK ACROSS THE ROAD WHEN THE LIGHT IS RED ESPECIALLY WHEN CHILDREN ARE AROUND

[meinname]

As a german I am very happy about those rules. Especially the last one ensures great quality tap water pretty much anywhere. Haven't bought bottled water since I live in Munich.

[bluemushroomz]

Heck germany has laws against noise? Now i love that place even more