Man fined for loudspeaker call at French station
A man who was fined 200 euros (£166) for calling a speaker at a French train station began to fight the fine.
The man was appointed only David, told French broadcaster BFM TV that he was calling his sister at Nantes station on Sunday when an employee of French railway company SNCF approached him.
David said he was fined 150 euros if he didn’t turn off the speakers, which he claimed later increased to 200 euros because he did not pay on the spot. He has since hired a lawyer to object to the fine.
The SNCF confirmed the man was fined by his security personnel in a quiet area of the station.
According to French stores Parisian.
According to BFM TV, David, 54, said he initially hung up the phone when he was told of the fine, thinking it was a joke.
The SNCF describes the escalating interaction between passengers and their staff before the fine is issued.
It told BBC News that its security personnel operated on trains and stations and were authorized to fine passengers.
SNCF confirmed the fine from 150 euros “because the customer refused to pay”.
according to Go to Ouest-Francethe incident took place on Sunday.
Although there is no national law in France that prohibits the use of mobile phones on speakers in public places, there are still noise control regulations.
Under French transportation regulations, people who use “sound equipment or tools” or “peaceful noise that disturbs others” may face fines.
Opinion surveys suggest that speaking loudly in public places is one of the most unacceptable actions on the phone.
In a survey of 2,005 adults in the UK last year, Discovered YouGov’s poll 86% believe that using speakers in shared environments is unacceptable, and 88% feel the same about speaking loudly.
With such a strong feeling, countries around the world have taken different approaches to public security issues.
Some train operators in the UK offer “quiet coaches” or “quiet areas” – passengers are encouraged to keep noise levels in the carriage. For example, the North Eastern Railway requires passengers to travel on such a coach to make sure the music they are listening to cannot be heard through their headphones and move if they want to call or answer the phone.
Italian train operator Trenitalia offers similar services on Frecciarossa trains. “Pastors looking to completely relax and get rid of the noise pollution of their phones can travel in the “silent zone” in their commercial carriages.
In Japan, there are strict cultural norms around public behavior, and people who call on trains will be considered impolite and very discouraged.
The train etiquette guide published by the West Japan Railway Company on its website requires passengers not to speak loudly on the train, but to set their phones to silent mode and avoid making and accepting calls on the train.
It said: “Speaking loudly inside the train is an annoyance to nearby passengers.”
Meanwhile, the Busan Transportation Company, located in Busan, South Korea, advises passengers to put their phones in vibration mode and “conversation quietly” under the railway etiquette guide posted on their website.
