Dresden is fighting against a wave of fare evaders: inspectors required!

Dresden is fighting against a wave of fare evaders: inspectors required!

In Dresden, the situation for transport companies has worsened in recent years. The number of fare evaders has almost doubled. While before the pandemic only around 2.5 to 3 percent of passengers traveled without a valid ticket, the rate is now around five percent. Falk Lösch, press spokesman for Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe (DVB), explains that the pandemic has led to a decrease in controls, which may have contributed to this increase. “We need more controls and visible staff,” emphasizes Lösch.

But what is really behind this increase? One reason could be the Deutschlandticket, which some transport associations see as partly responsible. Lukas Iffländer from the Probahn passenger association sees a trend here that there is less control and travelers are moving onto unsecured ground with the ticket. “The Deutschlandticket could lead to more people daring to travel without a valid ticket,” he states.

Economic impact

The consequences of fare evasion are not only a nuisance for the transport companies, but also for the municipal treasury. The city of Dresden loses around five million euros every year due to users who travel without a ticket. This sum has a direct impact on municipal finances and can jeopardize investments in education and infrastructure. However, it is commendable that the transport companies in Dresden and Magdeburg have already carried out control marathons to get the situation under control. But there are no lasting effects.

Something similar can be observed in Magdeburg. There, too, there has been a slight increase in fare evasion and the transport companies are also relying on staff in official uniforms to convey a feeling of security. This strategy is intended to raise awareness among passengers and increase controls, but so far it has not had the desired effect.

The invalid ticket challenge

But the concern about invalid tickets doesn't just affect the city of Dresden. A completely new aspect are the reports from travelers who are traveling with Germany tickets from a dubious website called D-Ticket.su. These tickets were originally sold at attractive conditions, but are no longer valid since Vetter GmbH revoked a crypto key. Many travelers unknowingly find themselves on the roads without a valid ticket and face fines that can be up to 60 euros.

D-Ticket is classified as a dubious provider that is not allowed to sell valid tickets. It is advisable that those affected try to get their money back and verify their payment details. Regular tickets can still be purchased via Vetter GmbH or mo.pla. This shows how important it is to use trustworthy providers when buying tickets.

Overall, the situation for transport companies is tense and requires urgent measures. Municipalities are under pressure to curb fare evasion while at the same time securing income for important investments. Only through good cooperation between all stakeholders can commuting time in Dresden and elsewhere be sustainably improved and fair mobility guaranteed for everyone.

For further information on the topics of fare evasion and road safety in Germany, you can read the reports from MDR, Heise and BMV read.