When may you remain parked at a parking meter without activating it?

You answered correctly. According to German traffic rules, you are allowed to stop at a parking meter without activating it if you are only allowing people to get in or out of the vehicle or for loading and unloading goods. These are considered short stops and not actual parking. If you plan to leave your car unattended for other reasons, like shopping or longer periods, you must pay at the parking meter. This helps keep parking spaces available for those who truly need to park and ensures proper use of regulated parking areas. Remember, stopping for shopping is counted as parking, not loading or unloading.