The Wacken Open Air, the annual music festival for metal fans from all over the world, stands for a lively party atmosphere, loud music and an incomparable atmosphere. But this year, rumors about customs checks began circulating, causing widespread outrage on social media. Apparently tractors should be shut down because of their markings, which led to heated discussions in the comment columns. But what is it?
The claim (sic!) “Whoa, they pulled up cars with about 60 tractors and now customs first looked at the license plate color.
Anyone who drives with a green number will be stopped on site. Or they can quickly change their registration to black for the month of August. In addition, each driver should not pull up for more than 10 hours per day. Occupational Safety and Health Act!! In Germany, people no longer want to lend a hand. We farmers finally have to get used to it. “Wacken Open Air”

Wacken 2023 and the initial situation: Controversy about tractors and green license plates
Rumors about customs controls quickly spread. The claim that customs checked tractors for green license plates and shut them down caused massive outrage among Internet users. Green license plates usually indicate agricultural and forestry machines that are exempt from vehicle tax. The use of these tractors on the festival grounds seemed to be incompatible with this.
Clarification by customs: No inspection of license plates
To counteract the growing digital storm of outrage, customs spoke out. On August 5, 2023, they released a clear statement Twitter

“The claim that #Customs in #Wacken checked tractors for their green license plates is not correct.” A clear rejection of the rumors circulating.
Suspicion of undeclared work: the real reason for the controls
In its statement, customs also clarified what the controls actually focused on. Arrivals were checked and special attention was paid to the security sector in order to enforce the anti-clandestine employment law . Tractor drivers, however, were not checked for their identification. The previous assumptions therefore turned out to be incorrect.

The Power of Words: How Misinformation Spreads
The example shows how quickly misinformation can spread. In the age of social media, news is shared and commented on in a matter of seconds. It is important to carefully question where information comes from and how credible it is. Customs faced a wave of outrage sparked by a misunderstanding.
| Claims | Fact check |
|---|---|
| Tractors were checked because of green license plates on the Wacken | Incorrect |
| Customs officials threatened fines and immobilized tractors | Incorrect |
| Customs did not carry out any checks on the tractor drivers | True |
| The focus of the controls was on the security industry | True |
| The checks were carried out on suspicion of undeclared work | True |
Facts instead of rumors: A lesson for the digital world
The story about the alleged tractor checks at Wacken Open Air 2023 should remind us all how important it is to rely on valid information and not to be guided by rumors. Even in times of social media and viral posts, it is crucial to rely on facts and check sources.
The everyday work of customs officers: protection against undeclared work
The actual focus of the customs controls was on security and compliance with the Anti-Clandestine Employment Act. The officers had the important task of checking the security industry and uncovering possible violations. This is an essential aspect of ensuring fair working conditions and combating undeclared work.
Conclusion: Clarifying the Tractor Controversies
The tractor controversy at Wacken Open Air 2023 showed how quickly misinformation spreads and what effects digital rumors can have. Initial claims that tractors were being inspected because of their green stickers turned out to be completely false.
The focus of the controls was actually on the security industry in order to enforce the anti-clandestine employment law. The tractors and their markings played no role. Customs did not check the drivers of the tractors, nor were the vehicles immobilized.
In the future, we should strive not only to react to sensational reports, but to achieve a better understanding of reality based on factual information. This is the only way we can create a reliable basis for discussion and decision-making and contribute to an informed and enlightened society.
COPY, SAVE and SHARE! We would be happy to provide you with a sharepic that fits this topic!

Also read:
If you enjoyed this post and value the importance of well-founded information, become part of the exclusive Mimikama Club! Support our work and help us promote awareness and combat misinformation. As a club member you receive:
📬 Special Weekly Newsletter: Get exclusive content straight to your inbox.
🎥 Exclusive video* “Fact Checker Basic Course”: Learn from Andre Wolf how to recognize and combat misinformation.
📅 Early access to in-depth articles and fact checks: always be one step ahead.
📄 Bonus articles, just for you: Discover content you won't find anywhere else.
📝 Participation in webinars and workshops : Join us live or watch the recordings.
✔️ Quality exchange: Discuss safely in our comment function without trolls and bots.
Join us and become part of a community that stands for truth and clarity. Together we can make the world a little better!
* In this special course, Andre Wolf will teach you how to recognize and effectively combat misinformation. After completing the video, you have the opportunity to join our research team and actively participate in the education - an opportunity that is exclusively reserved for our club members!
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )

