Potential Risks Associated with Carrying Large Items in Public Spaces
Sunday's Plant Fiasco: Salomé's Brawl with RATP over a Bloomin' Large Plant
A Fine Florabomb 💥 Didn't sit well with a young Parisian lady, Salomé, a 24-year-old journalist, after she was slapped with a hefty €150 fine. The reason? She dared to take a large plant on the Paris Metro. Unwilling to let it go, she fiercely contested the fine and reached out to the RATP to air her grievances. "Hi, RATP crew. Got sent a 150 smackeroos bill for hauling a rather tall plant on the metro. Gimme a shout if you wanna discuss, buddy", she wrote on X (ex-Twitter).
Her post, which quickly went viral on social media, sent shockwaves and left netizens fuming. They voiced their disapproval of the RATP's decision and questioned the system's morality. "150 euros fine. Why? The plant didn't have a ticket. A human without a ticket? Only 70 euros. Moral of the story: at RATP, it's better to be a cheater than a ficus", one dissenter lamented. At first, the RATP remained silent, but eventually they broke the ice with Salomé, defending their stance. According to the list of offenses applicable to the Paris transport organization, publishes on its website, the presence of an item deemed "inconvenient in a carriage" can warrant a €150 fine.
Steer Clear, Skullduggers, RATP's Fines Ain't for Sissies 🚧
Allowed Objects,rules Apply
Hanging out at République station, waiting for a train that would take her huge 1.30m x 0.25m plant, Salomé was reportedly outside the criteria for boarding metro trains by the RATP's customer service to TF1 Info. According to their explanation, "suitcases or various packages can't be larger than 75 cm. Packages that stretch up to 2 meters in length, but no more than 20 cm in other dimensions, are allowed if held vertically", they said. Not exactlywhat Salomé wanted to hear, given that items deemed bulky were supposedly accepted, according to signs displayed in stations - provided they could be carried comfortably. "Pop quiz: y'all think I had trouble carrying that plant? Spoiler alert: it was a breeze", she clarified. However, she had not yet settled into the train carriage when the fine was issued, only standing in a corridor when the infraction was caught. The RATP, though, insisted that they had granted Salomé's request for a refund, stating that the infraction was given during off-peak hours, in a relatively uncrowded corridor on a Sunday.
Among this article's themes: Metro, RATP, Rules.
- Salomé's lifestyle seems to conflict with the RATP's home-and-garden regulations, as she was fined for bringing a large plant on the metro, an offense listed on the RATP's website among general news.
- The incident involving Salomé's plant fiasco raises questions about the RATP's obligations, as some netizens question the system's morality, stating that a human without a ticket is only fined €70, while a plant without a ticket leads to a €150 fine.
