The French traffic code allows for penalizing those who use devices and instruments to create noise that disturbs the peace of others in areas designated for public transport.
A few days ago, news spread worldwide that a man in France was fined 200 euros for talking too loudly on his mobile phone.
The person, known only as David, was speaking with his sister on speakerphone at a railway station in Nantes, France when an employee of the railway company SNCF stopped him and asked him to lower his voice.
Although warned that he would receive a 150 euro fine, David thought the SNCF employee was joking. He refused to pay the fine at the station, and it then “increased” to 200 euros. He has hired lawyers who are now trying to contest the fine.
Fines for those who are too loud
There is no law in France that prohibits talking on speakerphone in public places. However, there are very clear regulations regarding noise control.
The French traffic code allows for penalizing those who use devices and instruments to create noise that disturbs the peace of others in areas designated for public transport. For example, you can be fined 60 euros on French railways even if you talk loudly on your mobile phone without using the speakerphone.
