A man in Nantes, France, is contesting a €200 fine he received for making a phone call on loudspeaker at a train station. The individual, identified only as David, claims that while talking to his sister last Sunday, he was approached by an employee of SNCF, the national railway company. David reported that he was initially told he would face a €150 fine if he did not stop the loudspeaker call, which was later raised to €200 since he did not pay immediately.
SNCF confirmed the incident, asserting that their security staff issued the fine in a quiet area of the station due to noise complaints. According to the company, the situation escalated as David conversed with the employee, leading to the issuance of the fine. Despite David's claim that he thought it was a joke and initially hung up his call, SNCF's response emphasized their authority to impose such penalties for public disturbances.
The incident raises questions around mobile phone etiquette in public spaces. While there is no specific law in France against using loudspeakers in public areas, existing noise control regulations dictate that sound devices causing disturbances in public transport zones can warrant fines. Survey data indicates that a significant majority of people in various countries consider speaking loudly on calls in shared environments to be unacceptable.
Internationally, approaches to managing public phone etiquette vary. In the UK, for instance, certain train services provide designated "quiet coaches" to curb noise disturbances, while Italy and Japan encourage silent modes and quiet conversations among travelers. The issue underscores a broader conversation about public behavior and the enforcement of etiquette in shared spaces, highlighting divergent cultural standards across the globe.
