The Greens and the Left Party have failed in their bid in the Bundestag. They wanted fare evasion to no longer be a criminal offence. The governing coalition of the CDU and SPD voted against the motion, as did the AfD. This was despite the fact that Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) also did not want fare evasion to be prosecuted as a criminal offence, and the judiciary had complained of being overburdened by these proceedings.
So the current law remains in place. Anyone caught travelling on a bus or train without a ticket must pay a fine: usually 60 euros. For repeat offenders who are reported, the fine increases. Anyone unable to pay this fine faces a prison sentence of up to one year – meaning they will go to prison.
Further information:
www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__265a.html
www.bussgeldkatalog.org/schwarzfahren/
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