A tangent, but I’m interested (as an American) what is the German attitude towards laws that have no enforcement or penalty? Do most people feel an obligation to observe them? Is there any social cost for disregarding them?

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braabe 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

I think it varies. I suspect in most common cases the lack of enforcement results from the rest of society not having an appetite to punish it. No harm done, no need to punish.

I believe jaywalking (or crossing a red light as a pedestrian) is prohibited, but you would have to do it in front of a really motivated cop (or cause an accident) to actually get a ticket for it. It is common and no one really cares - but if you were to do it in front of children or a school you will probably get disapproving looks or a somewhat stern talking to from others around you.

I think the image of the "order-loving german" is a bit of a stereotype. Some people overdo it (Calling the police for noise harassment if you still mow your lawn at 20:01), but they are generally not popular with their neighbors (or the police...)

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mr_toad 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

Jaywalking is illegal is many jurisdictions, partly for pedestrians own safety, but also partly to shift the blame if a pedestrian is involved in an accident. So it’s mostly seen as a crime where people only hurt themselves.

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em-bee 2 days ago | parent [-]

jaywalking is illegal because the term jaywalking defines the illegal crossing of a street. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaywalking

legal jaywalking is by definition not possible. what is however possible and legal is crossing the street away from a marked crossing. at least in europe and in most places in the world except the united states.

	▲	lokar 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		They changed the law in CA, it's still technically illegal, but police are directed to not cite anyone unless: "... a reasonably careful person would realize there is an immediate danger of collision with a moving vehicle or other device moving exclusively by human power" Turns out the police were mostly stopping non-white people for it

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lokar 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Any idea how the attitude compares to the Swiss?

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juujian 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

IIRC there is actually a practice of nullifying laws that cannot be enforced (Vollzugsdefizit). One example I remember is that the enforcement of minor drug possession charges was declared unconstitutional because that law was only selectively enforced.

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randomNumber7 2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

The population is very diverse about this I would say. Some people would stand at a red light as pedestrians until they starve to death while others don't give a fuck about anything.