The Greens and Left Party failed to decriminalize fare evasion in the Bundestag on Thursday. The governing Union and SPD factions, along with the AfD, rejected two legislative proposals in the second reading. The SPD expressed fundamental support for decriminalization but voted against out of coalition unity.
Green party MP Helge Limburg criticized the criminal offense status, noting that people end up in prison when they cannot pay fines imposed for fare evasion. He emphasized that even as a mere administrative offense, fare evasion would not go unpunished, as fines would continue to exist. "Around 60 euros is no small amount," he stated.
"Those who have too little money for tickets are anything but criminal," said Left Party MP Luke Hoß, adding with particular reference to the SPD: "Ensure that people no longer end up in jail because they have no money."
SPD MP Carmen Wegge indeed expressed clear support for decriminalization. "The criminalization of fare evasion disproportionately affects people in poverty," she said. "It leads to imprisonment for trivial damages." Federal Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig (SPD) voiced similar sentiments last week. She also argued based on the overburdened justice system, to which fare evasion proceedings contribute.
The CDU/CSU Union however, positioned itself clearly against decriminalization in the Bundestag debate. "Then all those who behave lawfully and spend money on a ticket will feel like fools," said CDU MP Alex Müller. "And not a few will join the lawbreakers if lawbreaking has no criminal consequences." AfD MP Tobias Peterka argued similarly and asked what would be removed from criminal law next after the decriminalization of fare evasion. "I can already see shoplifting wavering."
Riding without a ticket is considered obtaining services by deception and is therefore a criminal offense under Section 265a of the Criminal Code. According to police crime statistics, there were more than 93,000 cases in 2024 in which police took action for "fare evasion." According to the Federal Statistical Office, 21,881 people were sentenced to fines in 2024 for obtaining services by deception. However, fare evaders are not separately identified in these statistics.
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