Starting in September, passengers caught without a valid ticket on Prague’s public transport will face higher penalties.

The fine issued directly by an inspector will rise from the current 1,000 CZK to 1,200 CZK. If the payment is delayed, the penalty will climb to 1,500 CZK, and in the most serious cases up to 2,000 CZK.

According to Filip Drápal, spokesperson for Ropid, the goal is to keep a fair balance between ticket prices and penalties. “The adjustment ensures that paying for a valid ticket remains the more attractive option,” he told Novinky.

The decision on fines comes alongside a broader plan to raise ticket prices.

From January, a 30-minute ticket will increase from 30 CZK to 39 CZK, or 36 CZK if purchased through the Lítačka mobile app. A 90-minute ticket will go from 40 CZK to 50 CZK, or 46 CZK via the app.

Despite the increase, traveling without a ticket in Prague will remain less costly than in the Central Bohemian Region, where fines for fare dodgers were raised in June to 2,500 CZK.

Currently, Prague offers several discounts for quick payment. If passengers settle their fine on the spot or within fifteen days, they pay 1,000 CZK instead of the full amount. Those who buy an annual PID pass within five days of being fined can reduce the penalty further to 800 CZK.

First Major Change in 13 Years

City Hall spokesman Vít Hofman confirmed that Prague’s councilors have approved the revision after years of unchanged rates. “The level of fines hasn’t been adjusted for thirteen years. The proposal responds to rising costs, new rules on boarding buses through the front door, and changes in the Central Bohemian Region,” Hofman explained.

A Look Back at Fines Over the Years

Penalties for fare dodging have changed considerably since the early 1990s. Back then, the fine stood at 200 CZK—a meaningful sum at the time, given the average monthly salary of under 3,500 CZK. By 2000, the fine had increased to 800 CZK.

In 2005, inspectors began issuing higher penalties, raising the fine to 950 CZK, and in 2011 it reached 1,000 CZK.

Three years later, it rose again to 1,500 CZK for those who did not pay immediately. The upcoming adjustment marks the first increase since then, pushing the maximum fine up to 2,000 CZK.

Would you like us to write about your business? Find out more