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| Angelika/Mike Schilli |
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Michael One of the biggest stereotypes about America is that there is no bureaucracy. However, as soon as you have dealings with authorities here, you'll find that exactly the opposite is true; red tape is even worse here than in Germany. This certainly applies to the insanely complicated tax return, but there are even more interesting examples.
Did you know, for example, that in California there are special regulations for mobile ice cream vendors? Background: In 1999, a 4-year-old girl in San Bernardino (near Los Angeles) ran towards a parked ice cream truck and was struck and killed by a passing car. Two years later, the then-Governor of California, Gray Davis (later replaced by Arnold Schwarzenegger), signed the "Destiny Nicole Stout Memorial Act," named after the deceased girl. This law introduced specific regulations for mobile ice cream vendors. According to traffic regulations, an ice cream vendor is not allowed to stop on roads where cars travel faster than 25 miles per hour.
Additionally, vendors must display large signs with the words "WARNING" and "CHILDREN CROSSING" on both the front and back of the ice cream truck. These signs must be at least 12 by 48 inches (30 cm x 123 cm) in size to ensure they can be read from a distance. If you want to know further details about this regulation, here's a newspaper story.
Another special feature is the application of traffic regulations to private parking lots. For example, if someone shamelessly parks their car in a disabled parking space at the supermarket, the police can issue a ticket. However, this is only possible if there is a sign at the entrance of the premises stating that traffic regulations also apply on this private property. This serves as an invitation from the supermarket to passing traffic wardens (who are often male in the USA), who otherwise have no business on private property.
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