Germany and Austria tighten transport penalty laws

Germany's Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig is considering removing fare‑evasion (Schwarzfahren) from the criminal code to cut the high costs of substitute imprisonment that currently burden taxpayers, while still allowing fines under the existing §265a. The proposal aims to balance adequate punishment with reduced financial impact on the states.

In Austria, the Ministry of Mobility will raise traffic fines by roughly 50 % and standardise them nationwide from 1 January. Penalties for offences such as illegal parking, running red lights, and failing to keep a rescue lane will increase sharply, with the highest fines reaching €200. The reform is intended to create a uniform deterrent effect across all federal states.