3G mandatory in buses and trains: There is a risk of fines of up to 2500 euros

Coronavirus
3G mandatory in buses and trains: unwilling people face fines of up to 2500 euros

At the entrance to a subway station in Munich: focus control to ensure compliance with 3G rules in local public transport.

© Matthias Balk / DPA

From now on, every passenger on public transport must be tested, recovered or vaccinated – otherwise there is a risk of exclusion and a high fine. Impressions from the first day with the new 3G rules.

Since this Wednesday, passengers on buses, long-distance trains or the subway who are unable to present 3G proof during a check are threatened with an early end of the journey and a high fine. Everyone who uses public transport must therefore be vaccinated, recovered or tested. Despite numerous warnings about excessive demands on the control staff, at least Deutsche Bahn drew a positive balance at the start after the first day.

“Our control and security staff report that our passengers have a high level of acceptance of the new 3G rules,” said a spokeswoman. There were no problems. “Our impression is: The passengers are informed and have the evidence with them.”

The group did not name the exact numbers of the controls, detected rule violations and how many passengers had to get off at the next station due to a lack of evidence. Only during the inspection in an ICE from Berlin to Munich was a Russian passenger found without a complete vaccination. According to the railway, she had only received the first vaccination and had not yet been tested. The lady was allowed to travel to Leipzig to be tested there and then to continue the journey.

Support from the federal police

According to the train, checks are only carried out while driving and not when boarding. The 3G rule only applies to trains, not stations and platforms. If you do not show proof on the train, you have to get off at the next stop. “Should the DB have to pronounce an exclusion from transport, they can ask the federal police for support in the event of problems,” said a railway spokesman.

With the controls, the railway is implementing the resolutions of the federal government in the new Infection Protection Act (IFsG) from last week. This is intended to regulate contacts more closely in view of the rapidly increasing number of corona infections.

The rail unions EVG and GDL had criticized the new rules in rail traffic. They fear an unreasonable burden for the train attendants. “Many colleagues in local and regional transport as well as in the bus companies already feel overburdened and suffer from increased aggressiveness from some so-called passengers,” said Kristian Loroch, member of the board of the Railway and Transport Union (EVG).

25,000 euros fine for companies

The new rules apply nationwide in all public transport, except for taxis and for those under six years of age. Anyone who does not adhere to the new 3G obligation has to get off at the next station. There is also a heavy fine. In paragraph 73, paragraph 2 of the Infection Protection Act it says: “The administrative offense can (…) be punished with a fine of up to two thousand five hundred euros”. “

The transport companies are also responsible. If they do not adequately fulfill their control obligation, payments of up to 25,000 euros can be imposed on them.


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Even at the rail competitor Flixmobility, which is known for its green long-distance trains and Flixbuses, the controls went largely smoothly, said a spokeswoman. The Hamburger Verkehrsverbund (HVV) will not employ any additional inspectors, but will probably impose a fine of 150 euros if the rules are not observed. In addition, the HVV could also demand a contractual penalty of 40 euros, as is already practiced in the event of violations of the mask requirement.

The transport companies were surprised by the new version of the Infection Protection Act. “The lead time was extremely short,” says Björn Pamperin, spokesman for the railway company Metronom, with a view to the new regulations that were only presented at the end of last week. Many details of the implementation are still unclear. The fine is also causing difficulties, because: “We as a company are not allowed to levy such a fine,” said Pamperin.

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do with agencies

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