Los Angeles Metro transit officials are cracking down on ‘manspreading‘ and are dishing out fines for all sorts of bad behavior on public transport.
The practice of sitting with your legs apart so as to keep someone from occupying the seat next to you or ‘manspreading’ could now cost a fine of up to $75.
CBS Los Angeles reports:
BYPASS THE CENSORS
Sign up to get unfiltered news delivered straight to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe any time. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use
The latest “Metro Manners” campaign comes on the heels of a month-long enforcement surge earlier this year on the Blue Line, where more than 3,200 riders were issued warnings and over 2,000 were ejected for various infractions, including taking up excessive space and people eating and drinking on trains.
Riders who are found doing any of the following are subject to a fine of $75 per offense and could be escorted off the train or bus:
- Eating, drinking, smoking, vaping;
- Playing loud music;
- Disturbing others;
- Disorderly, lewd conduct;
- Placing chewing gum on seats;
- Loitering;
- Fare evasion;
- Occupying more than one seat or blocking a door; or
- Riding a bicycle or skateboard in a station.
Riders who commit third, fourth and fifth offenses could face being banned for 30 to 90 days, officials said.
It’s not the first time Metro has tried to teach better social etiquette to its riders: in 2003, the agency had “Metro Manners” trading cards designed for presentations to schools in LA County.
Some of the campaign’s characters included the Snacker, whose food and drinks were a messy nuisance to others; Edgy Eddie, named for his habit of standing dangerously close to the edges of sidewalk curbs and train platforms; and the Blab Sisters, who predictably do far too much blabbing on Metro rides.
