★ When it targets more individuals from racialized groups than others.
★ When people from a racialized group are treated more harshly or are more frequently fined.
In general, observe ticket controllers' behavior. Ask yourself: Who do ticket controllers control first? Whose tickets and IDs do they take longer to check? With whom do the controllers get verbally or physically aggressive? Who is allowed to leave the tram without showing a ticket?

- # DVB ENTWERTEN: Racist Ticket Controls and the Role of Bystanders: A Call to Action

How to support the affected person being controlled:

# The first step in any scenario is to STAY and LISTEN.

If the person being controlled does not want support, you can still be a witness to the situation.

## Calm Scenario: someone is controlled without a "valid" ticket:

If you have one, secretly stamp an extra ticket, go to the person being controlled and offer them the ticket saying, “I saw you dropped your ticket”. Make sure it gets into the controlled person's hand. If this doesn't work, the person may still need support. "Do you want support?" and "Are you okay?" are good questions to offer comfort. Name what is happening. Even without legal basis, a well-timed statement can put pressure on the ticket controller and makes the situation visible to everyone: "Why are you harassing this person?" "Why did you control them first?" "You didn't say you were giving them a fine." "Do you receive training about racial bias?" "What are your company policies on discrimination sensitivity?"

## Escalated Scenario: someone is controlled without a "valid" ticket and it gets verbal or physical:

In this case, you can try to block or be the "wall" in between the controller and person being controlled. Tell the ticket controller, "You shouldn't touch passengers." Ask others to help. If you're in a position to do so safely, record the interaction. Having video can challenge the cover-ups that follow these incidents. After, ask the person affected what they want to do with the video. If you do so, make sure to publish anonymously, blur controlled person's face. Be sure the video benefits them.
If the person being controlled does not give their ID, they will be forced to stay on the tram or bus until the last stop, where the police will be waiting to take their personal information. You can offer to stay with them. (is it always like that?)

## What can ticket controllers do?

★ Ask you to show your ticket
★ Inspect you in plain clothes
★ Ask for your personal info (Name, ID Number, address)
★ Both inspectors and bystanders, if they observe you `cheating benefits`, can detain you until the police arrive.
★ ask you to buy a ticket after the control. Even if you have paid the so-called increased fare,the ticket inspectors can ask you to buy a valid ticket.

## What not?

★ Ask you to show your identity card (only the police are allowed to do this)
★ Inspectors may inspect you in plain clothes, but must identify themselves to you
★ They are not allowed to prevent you from leaving the train or bus. If they want to check you just before you get off, they must leave the vehicle with you, but can check you on the platform.

## Have you been charged from the sides of DVB security or received an invitation to a police station after a racist ticket control?

It has been observed that the security company which DVB hires and its individual employees press charges against victims of racist ticket controls, listing false reasons like "physical injury/assault" (De: "Körperverletzung") or "defamation, insulting" (De: "Diffamierung"/"Verleumdung"). The victims receive a letter to attend a meeting at a police station.

## What can you do if you receive such a summons letter from the police?

If you get summoned by the police, it's not your obligation to attend the meeting. It cannot be interpreted as a disadvantage - it is your right not to appear! Here you can find more information and some exceptions: https://ea-dresden.site36.net/material/boese-post/

## What can happen if you don't pay the fine?

Travelling without a ticket is a criminal offence in Germany, since it was introduced by Nazis in 1935. Thousands of people end up in prison every year because they couldn't afford a ticket for local public transport and couldn't pay the following fine. The majority of those affected are unemployed and spend up to a year in prison. https://freiheitsfonds.de/

Kontakt: dvbentwerten@systemli.org