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Photo: FABRIZIO BENSCH / REUTERS
For the time being, the Berlin police are no longer allowed to charge climate demonstrators who stick themselves to the street for detachment and carrying away. This was decided by the Berlin Administrative Court in summary proceedings, according to a decision. The court thus granted the request of a climate activist. (VG 1 L 363/23)
The man had glued himself to a crossroads in Berlin in June 2022 along with other activists to demonstrate against the German government's climate policy. Because he did not comply with the request to leave the road, emergency services loosened the adhesive bond and carried him off the road.
In April of this year, the protester received a fee notice for 241 euros. The police authority relied on the scale of fees for the use of police facilities. The reason given was that road traffic had been significantly hindered by the man's sit-in, which posed a threat to public safety and order.
Police must reimburse fee
After the demonstrator unsuccessfully appealed against the decision, he filed a lawsuit against it. This has not yet been decided. However, his urgent application against the immediately enforceable fee notice has now been successful. In the opinion of the Administrative Court, the requirements for charging fees under the relevant statutory provisions are not met.
The police must therefore reimburse the protester for the fee already paid for the time being. An appeal against the decision can be lodged with the Higher Administrative Court of Berlin-Brandenburg.
By the beginning of September, the Berlin police had sent almost 1300 fee notices to climate activists, each in the amount of 241 euros, according to the Senate Interior Administration.
bbr/AFP/dpa