Germany’s justice minister has questioned whether traveling without a valid ticket should remain a criminal offense, saying the law deserves a fresh look because of the pressure 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 serving substitute custodial sentences may not belong behind bars.
Supporters of change, including the German Bar Association, argue the current approach is socially counterproductive. Spokesperson Swen Walentowski said prosecutions and prison terms for fare evasion cost taxpayers about €200 million a year and disproportionately affect those unable to pay fines.
Critics caution that decriminalizing fare dodging could weaken deterrence and normalize the behavior. Andreas Rosskopf, head of the Federal Police union (GdP), told the Rheinische Post that “obtaining services by deception must remain a criminal offense,” warning that lowering the penalty could lead many people to stop bothering to buy tickets.
Most German cities use an honor system without barriers: passengers board trains, trams and buses without having to swipe or scan at entry, and compliance is maintained through sporadic inspections by conductors and ticket inspectors. The federal government estimates that fare evasion accounts for only about 3–4% of journeys.
The emerging debate weighs enforcement and deterrence against questions of social justice, the financial and administrative costs of prosecutions, and the burden those cases place on courts and prisons. Any change would have to balance reducing undue hardship for low-income travelers with maintaining a system that encourages fare payment and covers public-transport funding needs.