[ad_1]
By Angela Dähling
Mayrhofen – Now it’s official: the tourist metropolis Mayrhofen declares war on noise and alcohol consumption in its streets. The local council unanimously passed a local police ordinance on September 9, which is based on “unreasonable security concerns and nuisance in the neighborhood,” it says in the preamble. It was decided that the consumption of alcohol in public places, streets and roads in four designated zones is prohibited 24 hours a day. There is also a ban on serving and serving in the summer from midnight and in winter from 11 pm to 6 am – approved events are excluded from this. Outdoor consumption is prohibited in all public spaces at night. The third prohibition refers to walking in ski boots and carrying skis, ski poles and snowboards from December 1 to April 15 between 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. in the center. Infractions are punished with fines of between 25 and 2000 euros.
However, with the exception of the ban on consumption, the bans do not apply to the entire town, but to designated areas. These include the main street, the areas around the valley stations of the mountain railway, the music pavilion, the forest festival area, and parts of the Ziller promenade. Security coordinator Didi Wechselberger explained yesterday in a press conference with Mayor Monika Wechselberger, GR Renate Huber-Rahm and federal and community police that these are the “hot spots” where vandalism (including local youth) has increased and noise pollution.
Mayrhofen Police Inspectorate Alexander Wechselberger welcomes the regulation: “Security in Mayrhofen is already there, but people’s subjective sense of safety suffers due to some excess alcohol.” He believes that the ski boot ban will reduce theft of skis. It is recognized that some problems could be transferred to areas not covered by the regulation. Then adjustments are necessary. Regulation is only legally binding after approval by the supervisory authority. According to BM Monika Wechselberger, state attorneys should verify whether the consumption or prohibition of ski boots is legal. The mayor points out that TVB and six of the seven bar and nightclub operators in the hotspots are in favor of the regulation.
You have to wait and see if the seventh, who is against, makes an objection. Otherwise, the ordinance could become legally binding in two to three weeks, says BM Wechselberger. The purpose of the bans is to strengthen the recreational value in Mayrhofen and to change the behavior of guests and locals in such a way that the place is quiet at night. Drinking alcohol doesn’t always lead to fights and vandalism. “But when a group walks down the street laughing at two in the morning, it is too noisy for those who want to sleep,” explains the local chief.
According to Didi Wechselberger, the fact that parts of the Zillerpromende also apply to the no-alcohol consumption and service zone is due to local youth who have repeatedly caused property damage there. “The ban there is also intended to protect our young people,” argues the security coordinator. Tour guides serving alcohol to their guests in front of the bus; this will no longer be seen in the city in the future. It can still be celebrated, but in hotel pubs and bars.
The mayor hopes that regulation will also change the way people leave. “In the past, people would go out at 8 pm, today they warm up and start at 11 pm Why not start earlier and stop earlier?” He says.
Does Mayrhofen want to attract a different group of guests with regulation and ditch the party image? BM Wechselberger denies it with the words: “We not only have party guests, but also many families. And the locals cannot exclude ourselves, we also like to celebrate.” And sometimes it gets noisy on the streets. Didi Wechselberger adds: “If one of the thousand guests, and there will be no more, the regulation does not adjust, then he should stay at home.
The market town and the TVB have been concerned for several years with how to ensure more safety and quality of life in the village. “There have been meetings with the police, security personnel, local operators and the district administration for a long time,” says Renate Huber-Rahm as a community security officer. And when, if not now in the crown phase, is the right time to adopt pro-security bans. The fact that certain target groups are being decimated in Mayrhofen or disappearing until there is a Covid-19 vaccine is something people are happy to accept, says Didi Wechselberger, who is also a Covid-19 representative at the tourism association. .
By the way, in the coming winter all the gorillas in the city center will be connected with each other and with the community police with radios. If someone is uncomfortable in a pub, the other restaurants are immediately informed. “And if there is a threat of a fight in front of a bar, the doorman can immediately call his colleagues in other bars to help and thus avoid a fight if possible,” explains Didi Wechselberger. How nightlife can take place in the coming winter due to Covid-19 is another question.
