Ah! We here in New York City can only dream of such a thing: enforcing the law when it comes to quality of life issues in the Subway. But in London's tube, such things as putting your feet on the seat next to you or playing music loudly are actually subject to a fine. And a pretty hefty one too. I love it. Wouldn't our subways be so much better if the NYPD cracked down as much as the London Police?
What do you think the fine would be for this character riding the MTA?
From London's Evening Standard
£50 fines for feet on seats
Rail and Tube passengers who put feet on seats or play music too loudly face £50 on-the-spot fines from British Transport Police.
Senior officers recognise that commuters often feel intimidated by low-level bad behaviour. They believe it also leads to more serious disorder and to clashes when troublemakers are confronted.
Officers will mount extra patrols as part of a major drive to reduce fear and cut crime on London's transport network.
The fines will vary according to the offence, rising to £80, and will double if not paid within 21 days.
British Transport Police assistant chief constable Steve Thomas said: "People who put their feet on the seats are showing a lack of consideration for others. Similarly when passengers inflict their music on everyone else either by playing it out loud or just too loudly through their earphones it is not only annoying but can also be offensive.
"British Transport Police officers will not tolerate such behaviour and will intervene. It is unacceptable and disrespectful for passengers to impose themselves on others in this way.
"Our public spaces, trains, Tubes, stations, should not be places where people feel intimidated or offended by the behaviour or others."
Mr Thomas added: "Such thoughtless, antisocial behaviour is particularly intimidating if those involved are part of a large group.
"Our officers will be making people aware of the potential impact their behaviour has and seeking to ensure that they modify it accordingly. We would also encourage passengers to report anything that makes them feel intimidated."
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6 comments:
A friend of mine did receive a ticket of some sort about 10 years ago for taking up more than one seat on an empty F train late at night. I can't remember what the fine was. And my sister got ticketed on the LA subway for having an open juice drink. I think her fine was $75.
Wow, that's interesting. Though I wonder why your friend received a ticket on an EMPTY F train. You would think that it would be more ticket worthy on a crowded train.
As far as food and drinks are concerned, I am always amazed that people take out entire meals and start eating. It kills me when someone eats Chinese food in an overcrowded subway car.
It's against the rules here too. But whether or not you get a ticket depends on luck. I think people end up getting tickets on empty trains because it's easy for the cops to write them and it keeps them from being bored! You can't drink from an open container, play loud music, sell candy, etc. etc.
http://www.mta.info/nyct/rules/rules.htm
http://gothamist.com/2006/07/16/put_your_foot_d.php
Gee, where have I been? I have never seen someone get a ticket on a train I was on. And I see people drink all the time from open cans. I do too. I better be careful...
Hello. You have an interesting post there - I would like to add upon it with a story of my own: I was on the F train going home one weekday afternoon recently and the train was relatively empty and I had put my feet up on a seat (or two!). I was approached by a man who showed me a police badge and asked me to step off the train.
Of course, I figured why I was being asked to get off the train by this plainclothed police officer - they were enforcing rules of quality of life in the subways (like keeping feet off the seats!) He was very nice about it and gave me a warning after he had scanned my driver's license in the police database for any outstanding warrants/crimes.
Fines for such offenses can run to $50. I certainly learned my lesson!
Boy, I am learning so much here. From now on, I will be sitting nicely in my seat with my hands in my lap.
No more drinking, no more stretching out. And no more cursing at the bad F train service.
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