Susanne Hierl, the spokesperson for the CDU’s parliamentary group on legal policy in the Bundestag, opposes the decriminalization of fare evasion. Speaking to “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland” on Wednesday, Hierl stated that the current proposal by the Federal Ministry of Justice-to remove fare evasion from the criminal code and treat it only as an administrative offense-is a mistake.
The CSU politician emphasized that public local and long-distance transport is essential to the transition to sustainable transport and climate protection. She argued that fare evasion is not a minor offense; rather, it undermines the solidarity shared by all passengers and endangers the expansion and modernization of transport networks.
According to Hierl, instead of relaxing enforcement, public transport should become more appealing through cleanliness, reliability, and fair pricing. She warned that if those who take climate protection and affordable mobility seriously do not stop rewarding fare evaders, the honest paying passengers will ultimately bear the burden. This opposing view follows a statement from Federal Minister of Justice Stefanie Hubig (SPD), who had previously advocated for fare evasion no longer being treated as a criminal act.