Unconventional Fine of 150 Euros in Paris Subway for an Unexpected Reason: A Shocking Tale of a Local Commuter
"Aheym, listen up!"
Here's a story about Salomé, a 24-year-old gal on a mission to purchase some greenery. But her journey took an unexpected detour when she found herself slapped with a €150 fine for transporting her plant on the Paris metro. Le Parisien reports that this isn't your average traffic violation.
"That really stung." Salomé shares her frustration. Accosted by a metro guard after a plant sale, she thought it was a routine check. But the check took an oddly long time. "I put my plant on the ground, flashed my pass to the officer, and thought they were just doing their job." Little did she know, that plant would cost her dear.
"Yeah, your plant's too big for the Metro. You've gotta pay a fine." The officer's words left her shocked. Her friend, Sophie, was equally taken aback. Salomé anticipated paying around 20 to 30 euros, the average penalty. But when she saw €150 flashing on the screen, her heart sank.
"They could've just asked us to turn back. We would've done it!" Salomé laments, still a bit bewildered by the hefty fine. What irks her more, she says, isn't so much the rules but the inconsistent enforcement. "Time and again, I've seen folks with bigger plants or odd objects hauled aboard the Metro, even a washing machine once."
Watch out, grifters, RATP fines could be steeper
What Salomé can't wrap her head around is that the fine was issued not for being on the Metro but for the plant she hadn't even boarded yet. Her tale echoes Le Parisien's findings, which confirm that the only infraction—"dangerous or inconvenient object in a car"—refers to "dangerous and large objects." Salomé believes in filing a complaint but doubts if it'll make a difference...
Now, listen carefully, as we break it down. RATP regulations state that items can be no longer than 2 meters but no wider than 20 cm[2]. So, transporting certain plants is possible, provided they meet these size criteria. However, inconsistent enforcement seems to be a thing with these Parisian plant police[1].
Salomé's fine was eventually reimbursed, potentially due to an error. But the whole incident serves as a friendly reminder to toe the line while riding the Metro for a greener and lighter wallet. Catch you on the flip side!
"Salomé now wishes she had been more aware of the tax implications of transporting large home-and-garden items like her plant, as it led to a hefty fine that Could impact her lifestyle choices in the future."
"Considering her experience, Salomé advises others to be mindful of the size restrictions for objects on the Paris metro, specifically when choosing home-and-garden items, to avoid another unexpected expense or fine."
