The city of Potsdam has decriminalised riding public transport without a ticket, meaning “Schwarzfahrer” will no longer face prison time if caught.

“Schwarzfahren” decriminalised in Potsdam

The Potsdam Transport Service GmbH has announced that it will no longer file criminal charges against people caught riding public transport without a ticket on multiple occasions.

After the Potsdam Left Party pushed to decriminalise “Schwarzfahren” (literally “riding black”), a decision was made by the city council to change the policy and Mayor Mike Schubert (SPD) instructed the local transport association to refrain from pressing charges in future.

Passengers travelling on public transport in Potsdam still need a valid ticket and if they are caught without one can still face a 60 euro fine, but not criminal proceedings.

Neighbouring Berlin will stick to charging "Schwarzfahrer"

In neighbouring Berlin, the Senate for Justice has already said that the capital will not follow in Potsdam’s footsteps, “It would send the wrong signal, if those who lack solidarity and decide not to buy a ticket, barely have any consequences to fear,” a department representative told the dpa.

In 2024, Berlin is increasingly isolated in its policy and outlook. Bremerhaven has not filed criminal proceedings for "Schwarzfahren" since 2012. Bremen followed suit in 2022, Düsseldorf, Cologne, Munster and Wiesbaden scrapped charges in 2023, then Karlsruhe, Mainz, Dresden and Halle in 2024. The main motivations cited for scrapping charges are the cost burden involved in lodging criminal proceedings and imprisoning those charged.

282 people currently in Berlin prisons for fare dodging

In Berlin, "Schwarzfahrer" face criminal proceedings if they are caught fair dodging three times within 12 months. This time window was reduced from 24 months in 2023.

According to the Senate for Justice, there are currently 282 people in Berlin prisons for dodging public transport fairs, costing around 230 euros per prisoner, per day.

The Freiheitsfonds, a non-profit organisation which raises money to help accused parties in their legal proceedings, claims that 87 percent of those imprisoned were unemployed, 15 percent without any fixed address and 15 percent suicidal when they were caught with a missing ticket.

The organisation argues that in the capital, “riding without a ticket must be decriminalised and free use of public transport must be made possible over the long term”.

Thumb image credit: Werner Spremberg / Shutterstock.com