Considering overburdened courts and prisons, federal justice minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) advocates for ending the criminal prosecution of passengers without valid tickets. Speaking to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”, she stated that there are compelling arguments for decriminalization. According to the minister, the current practice of imposing substitute prison sentences raises questions about the purpose of the existing legislation. Furthermore, she questioned whether individuals who cannot afford a fare and consequently end up in prison through a substitute sentence are truly meant to be there. Hubig also pointed to the strain that criminal prosecution places on administrative authorities. She noted that these proceedings tie up significant judicial resources that could be better utilized elsewhere. Within the black-red coalition, there is an agreement to modernize criminal law, and as part of this process, the criminal nature of riding without a ticket must undergo critical review. Currently, failing to show a ticket is classified as fraudulently acquiring services and is, therefore, a criminal offense under Section 265a of the German Criminal Code. According to the police criminal statistics, there were over 144,000 reported cases in 2024 alone.
Politics
