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Frankfurt / Main (dpa / lhe) - At the beginning of the new year there will be another sanction option for mask refusers in local public transport.
From January 1st, ticket inspectors in Hessen can impose a contractual penalty of 50 euros on them.
The reason for this is that the provision was included in the conditions of carriage.
Previously, the inspectors could only issue a dismissal - to impose fines, a regulatory authority like the police was needed.
The Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) explained that the personal safety of the staff is still in the foreground.
If a passenger becomes aggressive and the situation escalates, the police will be called.
Renitant mask refusers are a marginal phenomenon, explained the RMV.
Most recently, the proportion of passengers who consistently refused to wear mouth and nose protection without a certificate was below 0.5 percent.
The North Hessian Transport Association (NVV) has also created the corresponding legal framework.
Exceptions apply to children under six years of age and people with certified diseases.