The Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) has announced its search for lawyers to represent them in enforcing fines for fare evasion and in legal and enforcement proceedings. DPP aims to select three law firms that will handle cases ranging from the pre-trial stages to enforcement proceedings.

The winners of the selection process will be announced by the end of this year. With the annual collection of several million Czech korunas in fines for fare evasion, DPP plays a critical role as the largest municipal company responsible for public transportation in operating Prague’s public transport network.

DPP spokesperson, Aneta Řehková, has emphasized that the selection process will be conducted with maximum transparency and openness. The goal is to encourage participation from as many qualified law firms as possible. The tender will place great importance on effective communication between the law firms and debtors.

Petr Witowski, the General Director of DPP, has explained that the selected law firms will be required to establish accessible and functional communication channels, both internally and with enforcement agents. These channels should allow debtors to address specific inquiries at any stage of the debt collection process.

The evaluation of the proposals will consider the economic advantages for DPP, particularly the fees charged by law firms during the pre-litigation stage of debt collection. Unlike the fees for judicial and enforcement steps, the costs for the pre-litigation stage are not determined by the Ministry of Justice.

In 2021, DPP issued 7.3% more fines than the previous year, totaling over 222 million Czech korunas. However, the data for the prior year has not been published yet. The fine for fare evasion in Prague is set at 1500 Czech korunas, with a reduced rate of 1000 korunas if paid within 15 days. Additionally, the penalty for forgetting to validate the MHD lítačka card is 50 korunas, while the annual pass costs 3650 korunas.

The selection of law firms by DPP is expected to enhance the efficiency of debt collection processes, deter fare evasion, and ensure the smooth operation of Prague’s public transport system.

Article by Prague Forum