A man in Paris was fined more than 300,000 won for carrying a boxed television on the subway.
According to a recent report by the daily Le Parisien, a Paris resident named Mathieu was stopped by inspectors from the Paris transit operator RATP in a transfer corridor at around 3 p.m. local time on Saturday while transporting a Samsung flat-screen TV by subway. RATP officials fined him 150 euros (about 260,000 won) on the spot, citing a violation of internal rules barring passengers from carrying "dangerous or bulky items that inconvenience other passengers inside the train." The TV box Mathieu was carrying measured 150 centimeters in length, 90 centimeters in width and 15 centimeters in thickness.
Mathieu refused to pay on the spot, saying he had received no guidance or warning from station ticket office staff when he first passed through the turnstile. Administrative costs were then added, raising the fine to 200 euros (about 350,000 won). After a dispute, Mathieu was forced out of the station and called a separate private vehicle to move the TV.
In an interview with the outlet, Mathieu expressed regret, saying, "The inspector told me, 'You can't use the excuse that you didn't know the rules.'" He added, "Considering that Paris residents are encouraged to use public transit, it's quite ironic. Of course it's a big TV, but it's not a movie theater screen." According to Le Parisien, RATP officials receive 10 percent of the amount when fines they issue are paid on the spot.
According to the official rules on RATP's website, "luggage that can be carried by one person is permitted as long as it does not obstruct the movement of other passengers." Another clause, however, states that "carrying furniture, home appliances, large suitcases and other items that may obstruct or inconvenience passengers due to their nature or volume is prohibited."
Such conflicting rules have fueled continued controversy over subway luggage fines in Paris. In May last year, a woman was fined 150 euros for boarding the subway with a 130-centimeter-tall houseplant (a tree for interior decoration). At the time, the woman protested, saying, "I've seen people carrying washing machines and even larger items on the subway," and ultimately received a full refund of the fine.
Mathieu is reportedly planning to file a formal appeal against the fine.
