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German transit freeloader gets nearly 2 years in jail

A 24-year-old German man in has been sentenced to one year and 10 months in prison for habitually riding public transportation without a ticket, the district court in Essen announced on Tuesday.

German transit freeloader gets nearly 2 years in jail
Germany: No freeloaders allowed. Photo: DPA

Between October 2006 and February 2007, the Schwarzfahrer – which translates roughly as a freeloading rider in the shadows – was caught without a ticket 102 times. The man, who lives in Kleve in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, was even caught several times in a single day.

The court decided to punish the freeloading fellow with jail time because previous fines had been ineffective. The man said he chose to ride public transportation without a ticket out of boredom.