Dresden transport companies are intensifying controls against fare evaders!

Dresden transport companies are intensifying controls against fare evaders!

The Dresden Transport Authority (DVB) is tightening the reins from next week and increasing ticket controls on buses and trains. The reason for this is obvious: the return of numerous passengers to local public transport after the pandemic restrictions is leading to an increase in fare evasion. [Radiodresden]. The aim is for each passenger to be checked on average once per quarter, with checks taking place primarily on weekends and in the evenings.

A look at the numbers shows that the issue of fare evasion can take on enormous dimensions. In Dresden, the rate of caught fare evaders is estimated to be stable at 2.5 to 3 percent, which, with around 183 million passengers, means a total of around 4.6 million passengers without a valid ticket in 2024. This leads to revenue losses running into millions for DVB. The increasing number of passengers associated with the Deutschlandticket also contributes to the problem, which underlines the need for increased controls.

Legal framework and sanctions

Fare evasion is considered a criminal offense nationwide and is legally viewed as “obtaining benefits by fraud” in accordance with Section 265a of the German Criminal Code. The fine in Germany is at least 60 euros if a passenger is found without a valid ticket. Fr reports that repeated fare evasion can even lead to a fine or prison sentence of up to one year. However, recent developments show that some cities, such as Potsdam, have decided to no longer file criminal charges in more serious cases, which represents a departure from previous practice. The aim is to reduce the burden on those affected, while at the same time focusing on notorious fare evaders.

But there are also similar efforts in other cities that want to reassess the issue of fare evasion. Mainz and Wiesbaden have announced that they will no longer prosecute fare evasion, while Frankfurt is sticking strictly to the previous sanctions and will continue to punish fare evasion as a criminal offense. Despite these discussions, the increased transport fee of 60 euros remains in effect even if no criminal charges are filed.

What inspectors should pay attention to

Surveys show that public opinion about penalties varies greatly: around half of those surveyed find the current penalties for fare evasion to be too strict. The Greens in Berlin support the “Potsdam Way” and argue that criminal prosecution would only exacerbate social problems. Nevertheless, the Berlin Senate administration sees no reason to change the legal framework and fears an increase in fare evasion if the penalties are relaxed.

If passengers are incorrectly prosecuted for fare evasion, they can submit their ticket within seven days and then pay a processing fee of seven euros. Despite this relief, it is important to keep in mind that the inspectors also record personal data and can call the police if ID is missing.

You can see that the steps that DVB is taking are necessary not only to curb the financial losses, but also to send a clearer signal to the community: fare evasion will not be tolerated. At a time when using public transport is more important than ever, every passenger should also be prepared to do their part.