A 54-year-old man, identified only as David, is fighting back against a €200 fine he received for using his loudspeaker while making a phone call at Nantes train station in France. On a Sunday afternoon, while speaking with his sister, David was approached by an employee from SNCF, the French railway company, and was warned that he would face a €150 fine if he did not disable the loudspeaker. David continued his call, only to later find out that the fine had increased to €200 for not paying on the spot.
SNCF has confirmed that its security personnel issued the fine in a designated quiet area of the station and disputed some of David's version of the events, citing an escalating confrontation prior to the fine's issuance. David initially believed the situation to be a joke and hung up the phone upon hearing about the fine.
Despite there being no specific national law against loudspeaker use in public areas, certain local regulations within the French Transport Code relate to maintaining peace and limiting disturbances in public transport environments. According to these regulations, individuals using sound devices or creating noise disturbances may be subject to fines.
Public sentiment towards loud phone conversations appears to be overwhelmingly negative. A YouGov survey of British adults found that 86% deemed loudspeaker use in shared settings unacceptable, and 88% shared similar views on loud phone discussions. The varying cultural approaches to managing noise on public transports around the world range significantly. In the UK, some train operators have introduced "quiet coaches," encouraging passengers to minimize noise. Conversely, in Japan, it’s generally considered impolite to engage in phone conversations on trains, with guidelines urging passengers to keep phones on silent and avoid speaking loudly.
As the debate continues over public noise etiquette, David's case emphasizes the ongoing struggle to balance personal communication and collective public spaces amid differing cultural norms.
