Germany Archives - Trainsfare

February 20, 2020 Fare Evasion, Public Transport

1 in 33 passengers dodging fares on Berlin’s S-Bahn and BVG
Ticket inspectors identified 623,000 passengers travelling without a valid ticket in 2019

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According to a recent report commissioned by the German State Senate, fraud rate on the S-Bahn and on Berlin’s BVG was at an average 3% in 2019. In 2018, fraud was at 2.6% for S-Bahn, and at 3.1% in 2018 and 5% in 2017 for BVG. 1.13 billion trips were made on BVG’s subways,...

October 2, 2019 Public Transport

Germany considers decriminalising fare dodging in public transport
Currently fare evasion might cost you a fine of 60 euros or jail time up to one year, although prison sentences are rare

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Following a debate which we’ve written about earlier in January 2019, the state governments of Berlin and Thuringia have now submitted bills to downgrade the status of fare dodging in public transport from a criminal to a regulatory offence. Both governments argue that the current law of criminal prosecution does not offer a viable...

January 15, 2019 Fare Evasion

Punishment-free fare evasion in Berlin?
Investigation and punishment of fare evasion is “a waste of resources” according to the city’s Attorney-General

Decriminalizing fare evasion in public transport is becoming a tendency. Many cities in the United States have recently moved from court citations to administrative fines to speed up the judicial process. Now, Berlin suggests switching to a fully punishment-free system. Currently, fare evasion is a crime with potentially significant consequences such as large fines...