Modern equipment, a base, and more controllers. Traveling without a ticket is no longer profitable.

• The percentage of passengers who do not buy tickets for public transport on GZM buses and trams is systematically decreasing.
• Every dishonest passenger who evades paying the fine is reported to both KRD BIG SA and BIG InfoMonitor SA.
• The number of fines referred to court increased significantly – from 5,800 to 9,100. Payment demands also increased by 66%.

The percentage of passengers not purchasing tickets for public transport on GZM buses and trams is steadily declining. As recently as 2022, an average of 0.83 fare-dodgers were recorded per inspected bus. In 2023 and 2024, the figures were 0.68 and 0.60, respectively. Data for the first six months of this year indicate that this figure has already dropped to 0.52.

Passengers are increasingly aware that fare-dodging simply isn't profitable, that inspections are more frequent, and that the fine for not having a ticket is high. These are effective preventative measures, thanks to which we systematically record a lower percentage of dishonest passengers and effectively tighten the inspection and debt collection system.

- says Grzegorz Kwitek, member of the board of the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis.

The transport operator argues that an automated fare-dodging database with debtor registration systems is an important element of the inspection and debt collection system, as well as a preventive measure . Every dishonest passenger who evades payment of a fine is reported to both the National Road Traffic Records Bureau (KRD BIG SA) and BIG InfoMonitor SA. This results in, among other things, a loss of financial credibility, which is taken into account by banks, among others, when deciding whether to grant or deny a loan.

The number of inspections conducted in the first half of this year compared to the previous year increased from 67,000 to approximately 150,000. Along with this, the number of fare-dodgers caught red-handed also increased, but they constitute a decreasing percentage of all passengers inspected.

The number of fines referred to court also increased significantly – from 5,800 to 9,100. Payment demands were also sent by 66 percent.

GZM also adds that fewer and fewer passengers are choosing to travel without a ticket again. Although inspectors are conducting more and more field operations, the number of reports of fraud – classified as a misdemeanor under Polish law – is clearly decreasing. In the first half of 2024, there were 221 reports, and in the same period in 2025, only 154. This represents a nearly 30% drop.

This shows that passengers are increasingly understanding that fare-dodging simply doesn't pay off—both financially and legally. Penalties are real, and enforcement is effective.

- comments Grzegorz Kwitek.

In the first half of this year, revenue from ticket sales on GZM public transport amounted to approximately PLN 132 million. Last year, this figure did not exceed PLN 115 million. Revenue from fines also increased – from PLN 6.7 million in the first half of 2024 to PLN 9.7 million in the first half of this year.

"In recent years, we've made significant efforts to tighten the inspection and debt collection system and achieve these results. Hiring additional inspectors was crucial. Today, there are nearly 150 of them," says Wojciech Trzewik, deputy director of ZTM.

He adds that the inspectors have been equipped with modern equipment that has accelerated their work and allows fare dodgers to pay their fines on the spot with a payment card. "Now, by providing training to our employees, we will focus, among other things, on improving their soft skills. We will also want to invite uniformed services to cooperate," announces Wojciech Trzewik.