Commander’s Action Line

***image1***Issue:
Are military personnel still made aware of the cultural aspects of living on the local economy? As I sit here, at 11:45 p.m., there is a single Soldier downstairs building something with a hammer. In the next apartment another single Soldier makes phone calls at 1:30 a.m. and laughs it up with the party on the other end in a voice so loud it’s impossible to stay asleep. He also has no qualms about cranking up his stereo at midnight, evidently to lull the entire apartment complex from sleep. Are these people even remotely aware of German quiet hours? In six years, I have seen only one military person take their garbage to the curb on the designated day. They are defending our country and they can’t conform to common courtesy and follow rules for living in the local community? Now about the guy down stairs building the ark – do I call Polizei or base security?

Response:
The differences between German and American noise regulations are explained at Combat Intro briefings, on Family Support Center Web sites and by the housing office in their off-base housing brochure.

Quiet hours, for example, are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and all day Sundays and German holidays. During quiet hours, loud noises from stereos, lawn mowers, saws, etc., are not allowed. This is the law and enforced with administrative fines up to €500 for violation of the German Noise Protection Regu-lation.

Even with these differences, it all boils down to common courtesy and respect for others.

Communication is your best recourse to resolve noise problems. Talk to your neighbor and give them an off-base housing brochure on quiet hours and garbage pick-up dates, if necessary. These are available at the housing office and local city halls. If the situation doesn’t improve contact the German police. They will investigate your complaint and warn or ticket the offender as appropriate. U.S. Security Forces have no jurisdiction off base.