Travelers deceive farmer: 50 motorhomes occupy field in Wangen

In early May, a group of foreign travelers with about 20 motorhomes sought temporary parking in the canton of St. Gallen. They were turned away in Altstätten, and the site in Buchs was occupied. The canton has yet to establish any of the six required transit sites for travelers, despite the known issue and hundreds of child removals.

Police and municipal guards in Bolzano conducted a joint raid on public parking lots. At the cemetery parking lot, six motorhomes were found parked in an area restricted to cars. Two of them lacked a valid technical inspection, resulting in an additional fine of €173 each. At the Pfarrhof parking lot, four more motorhomes were found violating parking rules, two also without inspection, along with two illegally parked trailers. Authorities plan to install additional signs to clarify parking regulations.

In Merklingen, Baden-Württemberg, residents and the municipality faced a problem of long-term parking of motorhomes and caravans in the town center. About 35 spots on central streets were occupied for weeks and even months, causing dissatisfaction. Local authorities, including mayor Sven Kneipp, noted that under traffic regulations such vehicles may park for up to two weeks, but monitoring compliance is labor-intensive and ineffective. After unsuccessful talks with owners and a fine of 25 euros for exceeding the time limit, the municipality decided to introduce a parking zone for passenger cars only. This will exclude motorhomes and caravans, and violators face a fine or towing. The local council supported the decision; installing signs will cost a few hundred euros.