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Re:Germany considers free public transport in fight to banis... by conanbatt on Wednesday February 14, 2018 @02:47PM (#16378744)
Its a criminal offense not to pay a public transportation ticket?

Damn. I really was like Jason Bourne.

Re:Germany considers free public transport in fight to banis... by pgeorgi on Wednesday February 14, 2018 @03:38PM (#16379155)
https://dejure.org/gesetze/StGB/265a.html

StGB means criminal law.

(1) means that using public telecommunication services (eg. public phones, maybe paid public wifi?), public transport or entering an event with the intent not to pay the fee can lead to jail up to one year or a fine, unless there's another law that mandates a bigger punishment.

(2) means that even the attempt is a crime (ie. you don't have to succeed), otherwise them catching you would make you exempt from that law (as long as you paid up).

The first few incidents can usually be settled with the fine set by the transportation authority, both to avoid too much work in the legal system and because you might legitimately forget it every now and then (and that means no intent = not criminal = they'd lose a case based on this law).

After too many occurences they'll claim that you can't forget it that often, which helps build a case in court.

Re:Germany considers free public transport in fight to banis... by billforsternz on Wednesday February 14, 2018 @03:37PM (#16379151)
I am glad to hear this is a thing. I was apprehensive about travelling to the other side of the world by myself recently and confessed to my wife I wish I could be more like Jason Bourne. "He never fumbles for his passport, misplaced his tickets, worries about losing his medication". This became a theme as I reported my progress. On one leg I sat opposite a high powered cop (I could see the files he was working on). I reported back to my wife with pride that I overtook the action man in the race to passport control, "just like Jason Bourne".
Re:Germany considers free public transport in fight to banis... by whyever on Wednesday February 14, 2018 @03:27PM (#16379080)
In practice, it's punished as a criminal offense only if you are a serial offender.