# Germany: If you don't pay your TV license fee, the government will deflate your car tire **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 14, 2015, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612 "2015-10-14T07:39:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/21 "2015-10-14T17:36:29Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > When the only tool you have is a tire deflator, everything looks like a motor vehicle tax. That needs to be read with a German accent. Der tirenairtakenouternzug. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/22 "2015-10-14T17:48:07Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > That needs to be read with a German accent. Der tirenairtakenouternzug. _Ventilwächter_! ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/23 "2015-10-14T18:21:13Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > When the only tool you have is a tire deflator, everything looks like a motor vehicle tax. I thought Germany had special type rodent for this. You know, a Deflator Mouse. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/24 "2015-10-14T18:44:08Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > So I looked it [**up**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forchheim). > _When the coat of arms was bestowed upon the town at the beginning of the 13th century, people wrongly believed that their town’s name, “Vorchheim” originates from the Old High German word **vorhe** (“trout”). This resulted in the coat of arms showing two trout._ > > K… At least both are reasonably benign. I don’t think I ever looked at the Wikipedia link before, thanks for that. While my mom attend school and church there, she actually grew up in this town noted at the bottom, which its own village until it was annexed: > [@](#): > > Buckenhofen (on the left bank of the Regnitz; first mentioned in documents in 1251, but likely older; has about 4,500 inhabitants ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/25 "2015-10-14T18:48:50Z")
I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea of a license fee for a TV, even if you don’t own a TV. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/26 "2015-10-14T18:53:22Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea of a license fee for a TV, even if you don’t own a TV. You are not alone. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/27 "2015-10-14T19:05:04Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I thought Germany had special type rodent for this. You know, a Deflator Mouse. Brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/28 "2015-10-14T19:42:48Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea of a license fee for a TV, even if you don’t own a TV. They are Germans. They obey laws, follow orders. That sort of thing. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/29 "2015-10-14T20:17:31Z")
Doesn’t the UK have the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/30 "2015-10-14T20:33:07Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Doesn’t the UK have the same thing? I think you don’t pay it if you don’t have a television set. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/31 "2015-10-14T20:49:36Z")
I’ve heard that Germans are particularly fearful of inflation, but I didn’t think they had to worry about deflation too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/32 "2015-10-14T20:53:08Z")
I think they would have better results making tax evaders house, feed and clothe a Greek. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/33 "2015-10-14T23:36:19Z")
> [@jasg](#): > > I thought Germany had special type rodent for this. You know, a Deflator Mouse. I’m going to need you to sit in the hall and think about what you’ve done. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/34 "2015-10-14T23:39:43Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > I’m going to need you to sit in the hall and think about what you’ve done. He might come up with something _worse._ When you italicize the period, _it doesn’t change!_ ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2015, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/35 "2015-10-14T23:52:24Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea of a license fee for a TV, even if you don’t own a TV. I’m baffled by the concept of a TV tax, period. :dubious: Does that at least mean commercial breaks are shorter? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/36 "2015-10-15T00:25:18Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > Deflating the tire after the car is moving, who says the Germans don’t have a sense of humor? > Sounds like a device that if a person put on someones car as a joke they would find themselves in a great deal of trouble. > What do they do if you don’t have a car? Follow you around until they get a chance to push you down some stairs? Thanks for that. Needed a laugh. My Wife and I spent 3 weeks in Germany a few years ago. Wonderful people. Everyone was very kind. And very direct. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/37 "2015-10-15T01:48:52Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > I’m going to need you to sit in the hall and think about what you’ve done. Die Fledermaus. I just got it. Kill the son of a bitch, Please, G-d! Kill him\* NOW,\* before it spreads! ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/38 "2015-10-15T02:49:30Z")
Bows and exits stage left… ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/39 "2015-10-15T03:06:22Z")
What, Germans don’t have garages? ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2015, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612/40 "2015-10-15T03:09:05Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > I’m baffled by the concept of a TV tax, period. :dubious: > > Does that at least mean commercial breaks are shorter? In Britain it means BBC channels have no commercials at all. ( And thus theoretically, no beholding to commercial interests. ) Whether this is worth the tax, or whether BBC programmes are worth watching or listening to, are separate. And whilst I would object to paying such a tax ( which I avoid by not having a television set ) I don’t see much difference in paying a compulsory tax to the government to watch TV, or paying large compulsory sums to a private entity for cable, etc., or paying many compulsory small sums to advertisers every day that are extraneously subsumed in the price of their goods to pay for that advertising that supports commercial programming. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/germany-if-you-dont-pay-your-tv-license-fee-the-government-will-deflate-your-car-tire/734612.md?page=3)