The Daily News has a list of the various transit rules being proposed by the MTA. The Transit Authority is getting to vote on a number of measures now that the proposed subway photography ban is dead and buried. The new rules seem like some hilarious fining fun:
- Placing a foot on a seat or platform bench - $50The fine for walking between subway cars does seem a bit much - what about those times there's a really smelly person on the train? One man, though, tells the Daily News, "I believe there should be a ban so people don't have to risk going through the experience I went through," as he lost part of his right arm and left leg in a 1985 accident while walking between cars. Gothamist would like to fine people who don't get up for the elderly or pregnant women or people with small children. The worst was when we saw a pregnant lady with a two year old child in tow that had to stand for more than eighty blocks. The lack of humanity!
- Wearing skates - $100
- Standing on a skateboard - $100
- Riding a scooter - $100
- Fare evasion (claiming a Metrocard is damaged or that the turnstile isn't working)- $60
- Walking between subway cars - $75
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fat people whose enormous asses cant fit on one seat, or who bulge out into surrounding seats making them unuseable, should pay two fares AT LEAST.
sp, you are so badass to post anonymous comments about fat people up here...
While I agree that it is a little dangerous to walk between the cars, what are the people who ride the 1 supposed to do? We're forced to hustle our bums up to the first five cars if we want to get off at the ferry. Are we supposed to be ready to jump from one car to the other between stations? What happens when the car is crowded and you're trapped away from the doors? It seems excessive.
Another excessive "rule" the mTA is proposing again. From the photo ban to this now? Just another way for the MTA to make a couple of bucks here and there... I dont see these laws passing through, and will never happen...
Let them fine me for walking between cars to escape the cell phone yakkers, nail clippers and screaming kids. I'll pay it.
www.forgotten-ny.com
I would add: Using Cell Phone 50.00(100.00 for saying "I'm on the train") and 50.00 for the men who insist on sitting with their legs spread so far apart that you can't sit next to them (100.00 if they have the "jimmy legs" too).
Are these only new fines? What about fines for obvious no-nos like vandalism, amplifying music, or barfing all over the place? I would assume those exist. I wish the article mentioned them for comparison.
Isn't a "Pass at your own risk" warning between cars enough? I realize it isn't a good idea, but sometimes I really feel it is necessary to escape a car with no AC in the summer, a stinky person, or someone who has barfed all over the place.
The fines don't seem to match the violations or the likely violators. Skateboarders are generally young...how will the $100 fine be enforced? What if it is never paid?
A punishment isn't a punishment if it can't be enforced.
A fine for placing a foot up is just silly. People with long legs tend to do it without thinking on the NRQW type lines because of all the perendicular-oriented seats. Lots of people don't even realize they are doing it. If the foot leaves something messy, then maybe that is fine-able as vandalism.
Overall, this idea of adding fines is interesting, but mostly useless because I don't see how anyone is going to enforce the fine.
And who does the ticketing? A police officer or MTA employee? This could start a lot of fights and pull police away from more important duties. And if you don't have ID, what then? What if you claim to have no ID, stall for the next stop, punch the person writing the ticket and bolt for the exit?
This has bad idea written all over it. Seems to be an obvious (and simple) ploy by the MTA to "make" more revenue.
The MTA already has a pretty poor public image, and I don't think this will help improve it.
thanks LS, it warms my heart that my eforts towards a better world for all of us are appreciated.
What about just bringing your own seat? I was once carrying a chair home (I was dumpster diving, of course, how else could a 20-something furnish her apartment, actually I think I was 19 at the time, I digress) during rush hour. The train was pretty crowded but I was in heels and my dogs were barking, so I decided to sit in my chair. It was already taking up room and I decided I would take up less room by putting myself on top of the chair. It didn't end well, however. Some kid said "that bitch has a chair!" and kicked me as I was getting off of the train.
fine the fuckers who take two steps in the car and set up shop in front of the door.
One thousand smackers for any jackass wearing masculine body spray. On the subway or off of it.
A fine for just wearing skates?!?! These just seem quite stupid. The thing with going from car to car is horrible when they are locked and the train won't make another stop for a long while, forcing you to stay there with whatever annoyance there happens to be. Might as well fine a bum for smelling like piss on a hot day.
If they want the trains safer, the windows shouldn't pop out of their housing as easily as they do. I was on the 7 going to a friends place and went to lean on the door (which was locked) and the window popped out and sounded like a small firecracker was set off. If I hadn't leaned forward at that instant, I could have fallen back and perhaps onto the tracks.
Um don't lean on the window or door genius.
I would like to see a move to ban or restrict eating on the trains. Probably 95% of subway filth is directly related to eating, from wrappers to spills to crumbs. Someone eating greasy fast food on a hot, crowded car might as well be smoking.
I know this would negatively affect far-outer borough commuters who likely eat breakfast on the trains, as well as parents of small children (including me), but the MTA would save a fortune in cleaning costs and everyone's ride would be more pleasant. Well, except for the hungry people.
As for fare evasion, I remember reading an article in the Times a few months ago about people getting fines, even though they had Monthly metrocards, and simply evading fares because the machine didn't work. The result was, the guy fought it in court and won easily. However, you shouldn't get a ticket in the first place.
Secondly, why is almost everything more expensive than fare evasion? Fare evasion is trespassing, and the fine for that is understandable, but everything else is just way too much.
Lastly, how could you fine people for putting their feet up during late hours? I put it up at 4AM when no one else is on the train and I have a long commute ahead of me during weekdays.
I think littering and damaging property should be far more annoying, and far more common! What nonsense is MTA coming to?
What the f***???!!! Walking between cars is a risk. Wearing skates is dumb. Fare evasion is a **crime.** So why is it the lowest fine of the three??? The MTA Board could make Pataki look smart.
And Jas... amen, brother. I couldn't agree with you more.
Whatsthe fine for bringing a Segway on the Subway?
Also, not enough information on the peeing of the seats. If you've been on the train at 4AM you have seen at least one person urinate.
how about a fine for people who dont move to the center of the car during ruch hour?
...
Is this the "innovative" financing that Pataki was talking about?
Tim, IMO, This "fee" schedule is on par with the MTA's Ussual "Logic".
"- Fare evasion (claiming a Metrocard is damaged or that the turnstile isn't working)- $60"?
Um, suppose it's **ACTUALLY** Broken? Does the Cop fine the rider for "Claiming" it's really broken?
Nuts.
The fine for walking between subway cars means when the subway is moving, right? Just checking.
- Not moving towards center of car because you're too busy fiddling with your iPod - $100
- California Valley accent (every sentence sounds like a question, and you use the word "like" over and over again)- $150
I can't stand when guys sit with their legs completely spread on the train so that no one can sit down, or if I am able to sit down, I have to endure being molested by their stupid spread legs that they refuse to close. Gross. Just because you sit with your legs all spread does not mean I think you have a big weiner. It just makes me think you're a selfish moron.
HAHA...good one, smitty....I wonder if they're trying to air out their sissy pants or something. And the knee-rubbing when you do force in next to them on principle is quite nasty to endure.
Is there a fine for rubbing one's pecker up against someone else during rush hour? I'm thinking $1000 for that jimmy jam session.
What about when you see an empty car, get on with a bunch of happy people who think they can all now sit, and see the look of horror in everyone's eyes as you all simultaneously realize that you are riding the local with a pile of poo that's playing peek-a-boo off in the corner by the senior/handicapped seats. I'll take a fine to escape poo. In fact, I'd like that written on my tombstone.
The MTA should fine people that take up more than one seat for whatever reason, be it:
1) if they are professional fat people whose arms double as small children and can magically turn an entire three-seater section into a single laz-e-boy with footstool and detachable cup holder; 2) they are sleeping and drooling on their drunk buddy during rush hour and you know they've been there a since the last rush hour...and they wake up and complain to you that your umbrella is hitting them in the knee(I woulda picked another place to hit but couldn't get my umbrella there, thanks). I didn't realize that I should have boarded the train with some mints for your personal bedroom pillow, mister-its-my-nap-time-and-you-can-watch-if-you-want-to.
By the way, I love seeing all the men diving for seats that come available when there's a little old lady who clearly could use the seat and she just can't get over there in time. That's simply sad.
its not just men. I've seen women not get up for a woman who was pregnant and had another kid by the hand. keep the sexist remarks to yourselves on either side, people behave like selfish assholes on the train. I also cant stand people who "hog the pole", kids who play their g-unit beats on their speaker phones that sound lke shit but they still think theyre in a music video, door blockers, eaters, and people who use the subway to move large furniture
$2,000 for not standing up (or at least OFFERING your seat) for the elderly, pregnant women, women with young children, and ESPECIALLY people with canes, crutches, or casts.
oh, and people who bring their bikes on the train. you have a bike, ride it!
except for the designated seats, it should be the responsibility of the elderly, disabled and pregnant to ask for a seat, not up to the sitter to make the offer. often you can't tell and some people take offense if you insinuate that they are old or pregnant when they may only be fat. anyway, who are you going to fine? the entire car? i've never seen someone get denied a seat when they ask... if the person they ask refuses, the person next to them often apologizes for their lack of consideration and gives up their seat. seriously, if you need the seat, asking is the best way to get it.
Like the rest of the MTA these Ideas just suck. Can we please do something to get rid of the completely useless bags of #@it that just sit behing the entrance boths?! Ask them a question...Nothing What do they do? Besides cost us money? I have never seen one of these bas#@!# serve a useful purpose, and I just know deep down in my soul they are making the same amount as out Public school teachers. Arrrgh
i walk with a cane. i often ask for a seat, and yet i've been denied on more than one occasion, including when i've asked for designated seats. i put myself in front of the seats and have seen many people look at my cane and me before denying me (never vocally, of course—always closing eyes or continuing to read, etc.).
i agree that it is the best idea to ask. most people readily oblige. however, it is also worthwhile to note that subway doors close quickly. a person with a physical disability must enter the car, walk toward a seat, ask and then wait for an "answer" while the train begins moving. painful jerks, twists, and falls result.
it is unreasonable to ask for a fine for such behavior. but perhaps, readers of gothamist, my comment will make you a bit more aware of what the disabled experience on the subway. if you notice someone struggling, why not help out?
According to Channel 4 and the Post, spreading of the legs, or otherwise taking up more than one seat is one of the news fineable offenses.
http://www.wnbc.com/traffic/5451202/detail.html
According to Channel 4 and the Post, spreading of the legs, or otherwise taking up more than one seat is one of the news fineable offenses.
http://www.wnbc.com/traffic/5451202/detail.html
There has been a crackdown on walking between car doors on the uptown E train during the morning rush hour. Be on the lookout for Officer Joel Estevez. He's a heavyset Hispanic guy in his 30s, with a shaved head and a medium complexion. He usually wears baggy jeans or shorts and an oversized sports jersey. He has sometimes been spotted wearing goggle-type glasses. Estevez often works with a partner - a white guy in his 40s with salt-and-pepper hair and a black goatee. If you look closely, you can usually see Estevez's radio sticking out of his pocket. He usually boards the train downtown and sits in the middle of the car, peering through both adjoining car windows for violators. He generally exits the train at the command post at 34th Street.