This past Sunday at Nantes station, David found himself in a controversial situation when he received a €200 fine while chatting with his sister on speakerphone. The French railway company, SNCF, sent an employee to address his noisy phone call, warning him of a €150 fine if he didn't turn off the speaker. David, who initially believed he was being pranked, faced an increased penalty when he did not pay immediately.
SNCF suggested that the encounter escalated, leading to the issuance of the fine by their security team, which is authorized to penalize disruptive passengers. Despite there being no specific national law against using loudspeakers in public places, regulations exist to maintain noise control, as stated in the French Transport Code, which prohibits any disturbances in public transport areas.
David's predicament has ignited discussions about the acceptability of loud phone conversations in shared environments. Opinion polls indicate a significant majority of people consider loud speakerphone use in public unacceptable. Various countries have implemented different strategies to minimize such disturbances. In the UK, quiet zones are available on some trains, while Italy offers "silent areas" for peaceful travel. Japan emphasizes public decorum, strongly discouraging phone conversations on trains.
In light of David's case, it appears that public attitudes towards noise and phone etiquette are integral in shaping policies across transportation networks worldwide.
SNCF suggested that the encounter escalated, leading to the issuance of the fine by their security team, which is authorized to penalize disruptive passengers. Despite there being no specific national law against using loudspeakers in public places, regulations exist to maintain noise control, as stated in the French Transport Code, which prohibits any disturbances in public transport areas.
David's predicament has ignited discussions about the acceptability of loud phone conversations in shared environments. Opinion polls indicate a significant majority of people consider loud speakerphone use in public unacceptable. Various countries have implemented different strategies to minimize such disturbances. In the UK, quiet zones are available on some trains, while Italy offers "silent areas" for peaceful travel. Japan emphasizes public decorum, strongly discouraging phone conversations on trains.
In light of David's case, it appears that public attitudes towards noise and phone etiquette are integral in shaping policies across transportation networks worldwide.
