In Germany everyone is required by law to register their address within two weeks of moving. Not registering where you live and accompanying information, etc is illegal. If you move and someone else is now registered where you lived, you are no longer registered. You cannot really do very many things without that piece of paper including getting a SIM card or even renting a car without some difficulty.

So the police identify you and if you do something wrong they can just find you later, it's best if you catch the attention of the police you stop and deal with it. There is a much more relaxed attitude about law enforcement here, it's far more analytical and people generally avoid social disruption for the sake of. Rather than to avoid punishment. So it's social but it's the method of enforcement as well.

This means that the police presence has been cut down substantially, sometimes I can go a month without seeing a police officer.

Also, registering stuff like SIM cards on an address you are not registered at is also perfectly fine as that information is stricly for the state. The only interesting value for such companies to get hold from me is the Personalausweisnummer (id card number).

This might differ for outsiders as companies want a valid statement that you have an address here.

However, the german police is very good at finding people (and things), as there is a record on where most of your relatives live... Due to all that being rather complete, it works very well. I had a case where the police called my home number because my brothers car window was wide open on a parking lot in front of his house, 600km away. The police is forced to tow the car in that case, if they cannot reach someone. Also, cars are often tracked by paint. If someone flees in a car involved in a crash, the car can often be found, as paint is very unique to cars and locations (statistically). The databases for this are big and germans are generally okay with them.

There is sometimes a way to put screws on other people where possible. Example speeding: if someone speeds in a car, the registered owner will be asked first, even if the person on the picture is someone else. If the owner is unwilling to identify the person, restrictions might be put on him, e.g. writing a trip journal where he enters each and every trip and driver. Everyone wants to avoid that.

Also, germans prefer to game the system, not to wage war on it ;). Speeding is still rampant and there is a huge number of lawyers specialized on traffic laws that know all tricks to get you out of a ticket. Suing for a 40 Euro ticket is nothing unheard of.

If you leave your windows open and aren't there then people can easily steal from you and then cost the public money. Nobody was penalised, simply contacted and asked to close the window on their car.

> police is forced to tow the car in that case, if they cannot reach someone

If you want to know the specific part of the traffic law: StVO § 14, 2 (safety when entering and exiting the vehicle) [http://dejure.org/gesetze/StVO/14.html]:

"Kraftfahrzeuge sind auch gegen unbefugte Benutzung zu sichern."

(Vehicles are to be protected against unauthorized use.)

Also, your insurance might not like this ;).

As I said before, the german law is much more build around responsibilities. This is one example.

If you're unemployed for a very long time, you are entitled to these things (if you're unemployed in the short term, you're actually entitled to more than the listed):

* the state will pay your rent, water, heating, trash retrieval, etc. (maximum level of that depends on where in Germany you live)

* the state will pay your insurances for rent, illnesses, accidents and extended medical care

* the state will pay you 374€ per month, which you can use for power, internet, food, etc.

A small note: The mentioned insurances are mandatory in Germany and will be removed along with the tax from your job earnings (as an employee) before the cash is even put into your bank account.

So, to become homeless you need to either choose it willingly, or be in such a mental state that you somehow manage to slip through the social security net, but aren't functioning badly enough that the state hasn't picked you up yet.

Thats the only thing you need is place where official communication with you can happen. In practice, that means that there is some way to deliver letters for you.

Houses without address are pretty hard to find in germany. Building enforcement is very strict and every piece of land is owned and usually has an address before a house is built.