A Journalist's Unfortunate Fine for a Big Plant
Parisian Assessed Unusual 150 Euro Subway Fine, Set to Receive Refund
Salomé, a 24-year-old journalist, encountered an unexpected fine of 150 euros for transporting a big plant on the Paris metro. The young woman's reaction can be understood given the situation, as reported by Le Parisien.
"It stung me," Salomé shares. She was leaving a large plant sale with a friend at 5 pm when asked for her Navigo pass by an inspector. Believing it to be a routine check, she placed her plant on the ground to show her pass. However, things didn't go as expected.
"Yes, your plant is too big. You have to pay a fine," she was told, leaving Salomé and her friend, Sophie, surprised. They were compelled to pay the hefty fine, expecting a lower amount—at most 30 euros.
"When I saw 150 euros on the terminal...," Salomé recalled, expressing caution. She felt like she was holding a firearm due to the high fine.
Watch out, scoundrels, RATP fines might be substantial
What Salomé regrets isn't the RATP's rules but the inconsistency she observed with other passengers transporting larger objects in the metro. On the fine notice, the bird of paradise was classified as a "dangerous or inconvenient object in a car." However, Salomé hadn't even entered the metro yet.
According to Le Parisien, the RATP states that the infraction of "dangerous or inconvenient object in a car" only involves "dangerous and bulky objects." Eventually, Salomé was reimbursed, as the RATP acknowledged the incident and admitted that Salomé's complaint was reviewed and a favorable response was given due to the incident occurring "outside peak hours, in a corridor, with little crowd."
In a nutshell:- Salomé was fined for transporting a plant deemed too large for the metro.- She argued it did not inconvenience others.- The RATP eventually reimbursed the fine, suggesting a reconsideration following review or public reaction.
Despite her scholarship focusing on home-and-garden topics, Salomé found herself entangled in a general-news story about crime-and-justice, as she faced an unanticipated lifestyle issue related to home decoration. Her appeal against the hefty fine fortransporting a big plant on the Paris metro has sparked discussions about the RATP's regulations and their application, prompting questions about their consistency and fairness.
