Decriminalize riding without a ticket

Anyone who rides buses or trains without a valid ticket currently commits a criminal offense in Germany and can even go to prison. This draft bill would change that: riding without a ticket would be removed from criminal law and would no longer be treated as a criminal offense. Anyone caught would still pay the transport operators’ increased fare, about 60 euros on average. People particularly affected by the current penalties include poor people and people experiencing homelessness who cannot afford tickets and can end up in custody if they are unable to pay. In 2020 alone, there were 43,134 convictions, and an estimated 7,000 to 9,000 people went to prison as a result.