Paris woman fined €150 for taking 'too large' plant on the Metro
Be careful the next time you need to transport a plant on the Paris Metro. For one 24-year-old Frenchwoman, Salomé, she learned this lesson the hard way after being fined €150 after bringing a plant deemed 'too large' onto the city public transport network.
Salomé told her story to French daily
Le Parisien
. "I was leaving a large plant sale with a friend. It was 5pm. Just after I passed the turnstile (at République station), a ticket inspector asked to see my Navigo pass and my ID.
"I thought it was a routine check like many other checkpoints, but it lasted longer than expected. When things started to drag on, and the inspector didn't say anything to me, I though it was weird. I asked if I'd done something wrong, and they said 'Yes, your plant is too big. You have to pay a fine'", she said.
Salomé explained that she and her friend had not yet boarded the Metro, and they had simply passed the turnstile when the inspector gave her the fine. The Parisienne took
to X
to recount her misadventure, saying "I think I'll file a complaint, but well, I'm not sure it'll do much good."
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What are the rules?
Unfortunately for Salomé, she technically did break the RATP (Paris public transport) rules. Salomé's new plant - a bird of paradise measuring 1.3m in length and
25cm in width
- slightly exceeded the limit for the Metro, RER and Montmartre funicular.
Technically, the rules stipulate that items "can be no more than 2m long, but measuring no more than 20 cm in other dimensions, provided you hold them vertically". That said, there is no specific size limit for the bus or tram, as long as the item does not inconvenience fellow passengers.
READ MORE:
Suitcases, pets and DIY equipment - what can you take on the Paris Metro?
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