The Greek government has enacted stricter policies to combat fare evasion on public transport in Athens and Thessaloniki. This comes in response to rising incidents of fare evasion and assaults on ticket inspectors.
New Penalties for Fare Evasion
On March 23, new legislation was approved by the Greek parliament, significantly increasing fines for passengers traveling without a valid ticket.
- The flat fine for fare evasion has risen to €100, replacing the previous penalty of approximately €72.
- Passengers eligible for reduced fares will incur a fine of €50.
Implementation Timeline
The new fines will take effect two months after their publication in the Government Gazette, which means they will be in force by the end of May.
- Passengers with an unlimited monthly travel card valid for at least 30 days can benefit from a 50% reduction on their fines.
Enhanced Ticket Inspections
In addition to increased fines, ticket inspections are becoming more rigorous. Transport controllers will now conduct more frequent and unannounced checks.
This approach aims to discourage fare evasion and ensure compliance among passengers using the bus, metro, tram, electric railway, and trolleybuses.
