A few days ago it was reported that a man in France was fined 200 euros for talking on the phone too loudly.
The man, known only as David, was talking to his sister on the phone at a train station in Nantes, France, and had put the call on speakerphone. Then, a train station official asked him to lower his voice or else he would be fined, writes DailyMail.
Although he was warned that he would be fined 150 euros, David thought the official was joking. He refused to pay the fine on the spot and it was “increased” to 200 euros. He hired lawyers who are now trying to challenge its payment.
In France, there is no law prohibiting talking on the phone on speakerphone in public places. However, there are very clear rules about noise control.
French traffic law allows for fines for those who use devices and instruments to disturb others with noise in spaces used 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.
