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I got nailed by this in Munich as a tourist. It was so confusing to figure out which zone (and subzone?) my ticket was actually valid for and I ended up having

I got nailed by this in Munich as a tourist. It was so confusing to figure out which zone (and subzone?) my ticket was actually valid for and I ended up having to pay a fine. I am reasonably well traveled and not a stranger to public transit but that one got me.

dj_mc_merlin 4y ago
Yes, Munich has (had?) 6 zones. It's quite confusing. Surprised you had to pay as a tourist -- the usual trick we did as expats is pretend we don't speak German. Usually got away with a 5 euro fine.
- someweirdperson 4y ago
  Using public transport without the correct ticket is a criminal offense (Straftat) in Germany. It's not just a matter of paying an increased fee (that's the 5 Euro) when caught. The current minister of justice is considering to analyze if the law can be changed to make it just a misdemeanor (Ordnungwidrigkeit).
  - dj_mc_merlin 4y ago
    In practical terms however, it is very much just a matter of paying the fine and the ticket controllers do let tourists go sometimes (not the ones which do it as a prison work, but others do). Yes, there's stories about people going to prison for it, but usually they got caught a million times and refused to pay. I know a person like that.
  - nkmnz 4y ago
    don't scare people :) it's not a criminal offense if you forget your purse or buy the wrong ticket. It's a criminal offense if you enter the public transit knowing that you don't have a ticket and willing to break the law. That said, the increased fee is usually 60€ and criminal charges are usually only pressed for routine offenders and those not paying their fines. That said, I fully support Buschmann's initiative. Best minister of justice since a really long time.
weinzierl 4y ago
Haha, I lived in Munich for many years and still got burned. I was on the wrong train and noticed after a single station along the wrong branch. No biggie, got off the train and hopped on the next one back to the station I came from. Got fined because it turned out my ticket only allowed travel in one direction, not backwards. Most expensive kilometer of my live. Had I known, I had walked the short distance between the stations.

dj_mc_merlin 4y ago

Yes, Munich has (had?) 6 zones. It's quite confusing. Surprised you had to pay as a tourist -- the usual trick we did as expats is pretend we don't speak German. Usually got away with a 5 euro fine.

someweirdperson 4y ago
Using public transport without the correct ticket is a criminal offense (Straftat) in Germany. It's not just a matter of paying an increased fee (that's the 5 Euro) when caught. The current minister of justice is considering to analyze if the law can be changed to make it just a misdemeanor (Ordnungwidrigkeit).
- dj_mc_merlin 4y ago
  In practical terms however, it is very much just a matter of paying the fine and the ticket controllers do let tourists go sometimes (not the ones which do it as a prison work, but others do). Yes, there's stories about people going to prison for it, but usually they got caught a million times and refused to pay. I know a person like that.
- nkmnz 4y ago
  don't scare people :) it's not a criminal offense if you forget your purse or buy the wrong ticket. It's a criminal offense if you enter the public transit knowing that you don't have a ticket and willing to break the law. That said, the increased fee is usually 60€ and criminal charges are usually only pressed for routine offenders and those not paying their fines. That said, I fully support Buschmann's initiative. Best minister of justice since a really long time.

weinzierl 4y ago

Haha, I lived in Munich for many years and still got burned. I was on the wrong train and noticed after a single station along the wrong branch. No biggie, got off the train and hopped on the next one back to the station I came from. Got fined because it turned out my ticket only allowed travel in one direction, not backwards. Most expensive kilometer of my live. Had I known, I had walked the short distance between the stations.