Unlike NYC, SEPTA Doesn’t Plan On Making Arrests For Etiquette Violations

January 10, 2012 6:06 AM

file photo (by John Ostapkovich)

Reporting Cherri Gregg

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Heard On, Local, News, Philadelphia, Syndicated Local, Traffic & Transportation

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By Cherri Gregg

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Subway passengers in New York City have faced jail time or worse for breaking the train’s etiquette rules according to recent article in the New York Times. But could that happen here in Philadelphia?

The New York Times reports that New Yorkers are routinely arrested for putting their feet on a subway seat and the report cites several egregious examples of passengers being fined, jailed and even deported for committing such faux paus.

SEPTA launched an etiquette campaign about a year ago asking passengers to be polite to fellow commuters, but SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney says you won’t go to jail if you break the rules.

“The whole concept that if you are going to do something wrong, like putting your foot on the seat, you’re going to be arrested sends the wrong message to our customers. It’s a matter of respect for one’s self and a matter of respect for fellow commuters.”

Maloney says rules like no smoking or eating on the train are meant to make the ride more enjoyable for all. He says police intervention is reserved for only the worst offenses.

“If someone is going to be a jerk and be egregious with their social activities, we’ll take care of that with our personnel and our police.”

For more info on SEPTA’s rules of etiquette, go to http://www.SETPA.org

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Unlike NYC, SEPTA Doesnt Plan On Making Arrests For Etiquette Violations

http://1philly.com/septa-wont-make-arrests-for-etiquette-violations/ SEPTA won’t make arrests for etiquette violations | Local Philadelphia News Aggregator

[...] SEPTA tells CBS3 th&#1072t officers won’t m&#1072k&#1077 arrests f&#959r etiquette violations, even though th&#1072t’s h&#959w th&#1077&#1091 handle things &#1110n NYC. Th&#1077r&#1077, putting &#1091&#959&#965r feet up &#959n th&#1077 seat w&#1110ll result &#1110n getting &#1091&#959&#965r wrists &#1110n cuffs. [...]
andy

sheesh, they need to at *least* enforce smoking rules even if they do so only at 30th st. i know that’s amtrak’s job but you’ll never see them patrolling the SEPTA platforms
http://1philly.com/travel-rules/ Travel rules | Local Philadelphia News Aggregator

[...] SEPTA tells CBS3 th&#1072t officers won’t m&#1072k&#1077 arrests f&#959r etiquette violations, even though th&#1072t’s h&#959w th&#1077&#1091 handle things &#1110n NYC. Th&#1077r&#1077, putting &#1091&#959&#965r feet up &#959n th&#1077 seat w&#1110ll result &#1110n getting &#1091&#959&#965r wrists &#1110n cuffs. [...]
Carolyn

There’s way too much crime everywhere you go today, for the police to concern themselves about arresting people for not being courteous, let alone not being respectful to fellow passengers!!!
craig

Jerks,boorish klutzes and other human garbage will always ride in our transit systems.Bus and train operators catch all the flak.It needs to be kept under control.
Susan G.

How about the people who play their music through their headphones so loud that it sounds loud to others? And their taste in music is really bad.
SEPTA SUCKS!!

I was on a SEPTA bus just last week and 2 young ladies got on the bus in front of a seafood place. Yes, they had a container of food in a bag. Yes, they took the container out of the bag, opened it, each took a fork and started eating. Oh, did I mention they were sitting in that side seat directly across from the BUS DRIVER who saw them and SAID NOTHING? There is clearly the sign that says: No eating, No drinking, No smoking. I’ve been on the bus with a bus driver who won’t let you eat or drink on his bus. Sure wish he was on our bus THAT night.