600 more face court for feet on seats
Is dirtying a train seat as heinous a crime as murder, rape, assault or robbery? In the eyes of one rail franchise, this seems to be the case.
The highest profile casualty of this is the case of an Oldham cub scout leader, who after placing her feet on a train seat was sent to Chester Magistrates Court. She pleaded ‘guilt’ to the charges of ‘wilfully interfering with the comfort or convenience of other rail passengers’, though not ordered to pay the penalty costs.
As well as making the front page and the leader comment section of the Manchester Evening News (04 September 2007), the story made the national dailies the following day. Today’s Daily Mail included a column, supporting the rail franchise who enforced the charge. Following this was news of a further 600 passengers awaiting the attention of Chester Magistrates - for the same reasons!
I understand myself that accidental or intentional that putting feet on the opposite seat does of course inhibit the passenger’s right to a clean train, bus or tram ride. One thing I do not believe is how this should be considered a criminal act. More people have had their journeys disrupted by signal failures - because some young NEDs decided to steal the cabling for scrap metal.
I do not support the use of court time for such trifling offences. If further proceedings need to taken, and has proved to be offensive to other passengers, a fixed penalty should be administered - bypassing the courts - akin to smoking fines. Alternatively, in extreme cases, miscreants should be issued a cleaning bill for the damages from the transport company - in line with taxi companies.
In one way, these events could be a wake up call for commuters, though in another way, this could be further proof of objects being given preference over people.
Manchester Evening News, 05 September 2007
S.V., 05 September 2007.
* Tony Wilson, 2002
