public order office
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public order office
A municipal authority in Germany responsible for maintaining public safety and order. Its duties include, among other things, monitoring stationary traffic, inspecting businesses, and enforcing municipal regulations.
Das Ordnungsamt hat wegen der Ruhestörung in der Nacht ein Bußgeld verhängt.
The public order office imposed a fine because of the nighttime disturbance.
The word is made up of 'Ordnung' (order), the linking -s, and 'Amt' (office/authority). So it is literally the 'office for public order'.
Das Ordnungsamt sorgt für Sicherheit bei öffentlichen Veranstaltungen.
The public order office ensures safety at public events.
In daily life, the Ordnungsamt (public order office) is best known for monitoring illegal parking (colloquially 'Knöllchen' — parking tickets), handling noise complaints ('Ruhestörung' — disturbance of the peace), and approving special uses of public space.
Wegen des Falschparkens habe ich einen Strafzettel vom Ordnungsamt bekommen.
I got a parking ticket from the public order office for parking illegally.
Common verbs used in connection with this authority are 'das Ordnungsamt rufen/informieren' (to call/inform the public order office), 'sich beim Ordnungsamt beschweren' (to complain to the public order office), or 'eine Strafe vom Ordnungsamt erhalten' (to receive a fine from the public order office).
Die Nachbarn haben sich wegen der lauten Musik beim Ordnungsamt beschwert.
The neighbors complained to the public order office because of the loud music.
police
'die Polizei' and 'das Ordnungsamt' both take care of safety and order, but they do not have the same duties. 'die Polizei' is responsible when it comes to crimes, danger, accidents, or urgent help. 'das Ordnungsamt' is a city or municipal authority and is more likely to check everyday rules, for example parking, noise, or certain businesses. The words can be confused because both appear in an official capacity and enforce rules. As a simple guide: in cases of danger or crimes, you say 'Polizei'; for city regulations, often 'Ordnungsamt'.
Wegen der falsch geparkten Autos kam das Ordnungsamt in die Straße.
Because of the illegally parked cars, the public order office came to the street.
Am Bahnhof hat die Polizei einem verlorenen Kind geholfen.
At the train station, the police helped a lost child.