Germany’s justice minister has questioned whether traveling without a ticket should remain a criminal offence, saying the law needs reassessment given the strain such cases place on the justice system. Stefanie Hubig, a Social Democrat, told the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung that people who cannot afford fares and end up jailed through substitute custodial sentences may not belong in prison.
Supporters of reform, including the German Bar Association, call the current rules socially counterproductive. Spokesperson Swen Walentowski said prosecutions and prison terms for fare evasion cost taxpayers about €200 million annually and disproportionately affect those unable to pay.
Opponents warn decriminalization could normalize fare dodging. Andreas Rosskopf, head of the Federal Police union (GdP), told the Rheinische Post that “obtaining services by deception must remain a criminal offense.” He warned that downgrading the offence would risk many people no longer caring whether they have a ticket.
In most German cities, passengers do not need to swipe or scan a ticket to enter trains, trams or buses; compliance is enforced by sporadic checks from conductors. The government estimates that only 3–4% of trips are undertaken by fare dodgers. The debate centers on balancing enforcement and deterrence with concerns about social justice, the cost of prosecutions and the impact on courts and prisons.