Given the increased strain on courts and prisons, Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig (SPD) advocates for ending criminal prosecution for passengers who travel without a valid ticket. Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” (noz), she stated that, in her view, there are compelling reasons for decriminalization. She questioned the purpose of the current legislation based on the existing practice of punitive confinement, suggesting that it must be asked whether people who cannot afford a ticket and consequently end up in jail via a penalty are truly meant to be there. Hubig also pointed to the strain that criminal prosecution places on public authorities. She remarked to noz that these legal proceedings tie up significant judicial resources that could be utilized more effectively elsewhere. The red-black coalition has agreed to modernize criminal law, which will require a critical review of the criminal liability associated with fare evasion. Lacking a ticket is currently considered the misappropriation of services and is thus a criminal offense under Paragraph 265a of the Criminal Code. According to the police criminal statistics, there were over 144,000 cases in 2024 alone where the police intervened.
Justice Minister Calls For Ending Penalties For Fare Evasion
