Monday, 29 June 2015 - 16:25
Fines for public transport fare dodgers to double
The fine for using public transport without paying will double from 35 euros to 70 euros, State Secretary Wilma Mansveld of Infrastructure and Environment announced on Monday.
"With the higher fine I want to lower the number of fare dodgers drastically", Mansveld said to the AD. "This will also improve safety. Because 60 percent of the people who cause nuisance in public transport, travel without paying.
In addition to the new fine of 70 euros, the administration fees for late payments will also increase from 10 to 15 euros. Mansveld will also discuss harsher penalties for people who do not pay their fines or offend repeatedly with the Public Prosecutor and the Ministry of Security and Justice.
Mansveld wants the regime of checking in to and out of public transport to become much friendlier to people who accidentally forgot to check in. Conductors must be able to check on previous travel information to see if they have checked in and out on other trips to determine whether there was malicious intent. If it had indeed been an accident, they should be left alone.