Business idea spoiled: Ingolstadt “gas station” may not distribute sex toys at night

The Chamber for Commercial Matters of the Ingolstadt Regional Court has banned a local “gas station” owner from continuing his nightly sales of erotic accessories. As reported by “Focus,” the small store had been able to circumvent the regular store closing law since 2006 because it was registered as a gas station and had set up a gas pump near the sales area, barely visible and without access. When a competitor, the operator of an adult market chain, sued, the court looked at the alleged gas station last November and upheld the charge of sham operation. “The customer cannot recognize that it is a gas station,” said presiding judge Konrad Kliegl in the verdict. The verdict was relatively lenient: The operator had to re-register his business and had to respect the normal store closing laws, the court concluded. Thus, the owner can no longer open on weekends and at night.