A man in Nantes, France, is contesting a €200 fine he received for making a phone call on loudspeaker at a train station, claiming the penalty was unjust. Identified only as David, he recounted his experience to French broadcaster BFM TV, explaining he was speaking with his sister when SNCF staff informed him that he risked being fined €150 if he did not turn off the speaker function. David initially thought the interaction was a joke and ended the call, but the fine later increased to €200 due to his refusal to pay immediately.
SNCF, France's state-owned railway company, has confirmed that its security personnel issued the fine in a designated quiet area of the station. Their account suggests a confrontation occurred between David and the staff member, leading to the issuance of the fine. According to SNCF, the fine was raised since David declined to settle it on the spot.
While France lacks a specific ban on loudspeaker use in public places, noise regulations in the French Transport Code stipulate that individuals disturbing the peace with sound devices in public transport areas may face fines. Public sentiment tends to be against loud phone conversations; a YouGov survey indicated that 86% of British respondents deemed speakerphone use unacceptable in public settings.
Globally, different countries enforce various etiquette regarding phone use in transit. In the UK, trains feature "quiet zones" where passengers must maintain lower noise levels, while Italian service Trenitalia provides quiet areas in its business carriages. In Japan, conversing on mobile phones while on trains is considered impolite and is strongly discouraged, as reinforced by guidelines from West Japan Railway Company. Similarly, South Korea's Busan Transportation Corporation advises passengers to keep phones on vibration and converse quietly to uphold public decorum.
