I'm sure the trip to the police station and immediate release is a real setback for these people. Unless they're breaking more serious laws, no one is paying to put these people behind bars for any length of time.

I mean, you're right in theory, but in the real world things are very different.

I don't know, all the places I lived in (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46029488) manage just fine. Must be some crazy black magic rocket science they are doing over in Germany or Britain or Turkey or Singapore or Australia to keep non-payers off their public transport.

And in many places I haven't lived but only visited, too.