[Item Box]

Which part of the city was this? Seems like people do it without a care in the world here in bk.

In 8 years riding the subway it's never once occurred to me to walk between the cars. They have big fucking signs telling you not to do that. I can't think of any good season to walk between the cars unless you're one of those mariachi bands, a kid selling candy for his "basketball team," or a beggar.

.

[Dude Abides]

In 8 years riding the subway it's never once occurred to me to walk between the cars. They have big fucking signs telling you not to do that. I can't think of any good season to walk between the cars unless you're one of those mariachi bands, a kid selling candy for his "basketball team," or a beggar.

[Sec0nd]

I... I do this all the time? I have never heard of this being illegal anywhere?

[elongation]

I respect cops, and I respect what they do

Well that was your first mistake..

[soepje]

In 8 years riding the subway it's never once occurred to me to walk between the cars. They have big fucking signs telling you not to do that. I can't think of any good season to walk between the cars unless you're one of those mariachi bands, a kid selling candy for his "basketball team," or a beggar.

I would have guessed summer if it was a train. But for subways i don´t know either.

[Diprosalic]

I seriously have no idea what you did. Can anyone explain?

[tino]

I got a ticket for putting my legs on the subway seat. It was after midnight on a 7 train in the 42th St stop.

Fucking NYPD

[Kentpaul]

Rules don't exist to bind you.They exist so you know your freedoms.

[worldrevolution]

The fuck.. since when is this a law in NYC? I have never seen this. Not to mention it feels totally insane to me considering in other countries (even states.. like NJ) people walk in and out of cars all the friggin time, while in motion as well.

[antipod]

In 8 years riding the subway it's never once occurred to me to walk between the cars. They have big fucking signs telling you not to do that. I can't think of any good season to walk between the cars unless you're one of those mariachi bands, a kid selling candy for his "basketball team," or a beggar.

Well, the one reason I can think of is to get closer to the exit at the station you're going to, to save time.

[Schattenjäger]

I'm one stop away from getting off, when I decide to go through the train car doors toward the back of the train while it's still stationed at the current stop. Fat cop and his fellow officer see me, call me over, and I have to walk through the aisle among the other passengers feeling like a fucking idiot criminal. I get out, and he's like, "Hey, you ever been arrested before?" I tell him, "No." The rest of the conversation pretty much went like this: Him: "Can I see your ID?" Me: "Sure. Is this about walking through the doors?" Him: "Yeah. The MTA has us really enforcing these rules." *reads off my information to someone over the radio, then hands my ID to the other guy* Me: "Dude, come on, can I just get a warning?" Him: "I'm sorry, but with all the cameras watching us, I have to write you up." Me: "Look, I know you're doing your job, but you have to understand that this really fucking sucks from my perspective." Him: "I know, man, I hate doing it. Listen, we won't give you a court order summons. You can just mail in your fine. That's the best I could do. It's $75, and it doesn't go on your record or anything." Me: "$75? Really? Come on, man... Fuck, that's killer. I don't have $75 just lying around." Then he goes on and on about how I can call up the number on the back or call the MTA and they might give me a discount, spouting some bullshit story about how he knew someone who did that. And I knew it was bullshit because he was nervous and stuttering the entire time when earlier he was cool and collected. At some point I was just like, "I get it, you're doing your job, but you and I both know that no matter who I call absolutely nothing will happen and I'll end up paying the full $75. Whatever." Then there was awkward silence for a while as the slow-ass motherfucker finished writing up my ticket. I respect cops, and I respect what they do (most of the time), but my god I can't help but feel like I was the victim of an absolutely bullshit quota filler ticket. They could have gotten their message across just as well with a little warning. And before some of you white knights give me shit about how, "Well, you broke the law, you deserve to be butt-fucked in prison," fuck off. As if you've never felt screwed over by the law at some point. Yeah, I'm pissed, but as someone who rides the subway always and to have this happen... man, it blows.

Sorry bro - that does sound frustrating.
I don't mind cops doing their job either but I would be annoyed.
I think you screwed yourself by what you said - you should have played dumb and be like I didn't know
Fight the ticket - say there was a crazy man on the train and you were looking for help or you smelt a strange odor or something - the cops won't come in to fight this ticket

[perineumlick]

As an MTA employee, I can tell you exactly why that law is in effect. People in NYC do stupid shit, and I've had to clean up several people off the tracks because they have fallen between the cars, either while moving or stationary. The OP took a time saving risk, and got caught. Whether it was a quota ticket or not, sometimes you get the bear, sometimes he gets you.

I will admit, if I'm off duty riding the train, and I see a cop in the next car, I'll walk through on purpose to see if he/she will say something, so I can back them off with my pass. Childish I know, but some cops can be dicks, and I like to see their reaction when they can't do shit to me.

[LM4sure]

Don't break the law, you won't get a ticket. Simple, huh?

[Schattenjäger]

Then I guess I misunderstood you, sorry. But if they really wanted to modernize their train fleet, something as simple as making it safer to traverse from car to car would have been a GREAT place to start. I suspect that drawing revenue from keeping it UNsafe probably keeps it pretty low on the list of priorities.

Yea and with what money are they gonna modernize their fleet with? Ours? It's ok - we don't need more fare hikes - just follow the rules

Oh and you can get a ticket for placing your bag on an empty chair too

[Reuenthal]

The cop was overwhelmingly understanding and respectful and following the law, and you can't blame him. So just pay the fine.

If you disagree with moving through train car doors requiring a fine then your complaint is not to the one enforcing this law.

I understand why you would feel annoyed though.

[AdventureMike]

Uhmm... I don't know about the NYC subway, but on the DC Metro (which I happened to be riding while reading this thread) has signs like this posted up on the doors. I took the picture after reading this thread.

I think it's pretty clear they don't want you using them to move between trains.

[Relix]

lol US laws

[worldrevolution]

AH OK FINALLY GOT IT.. the thing I read says this law when into effect in NYC in 2005, strangely the same year I moved away. Wow. That sucks.

[KHarvey16]

In 8 years riding the subway it's never once occurred to me to walk between the cars. They have big fucking signs telling you not to do that. I can't think of any good season to walk between the cars unless you're one of those mariachi bands, a kid selling candy for his "basketball team," or a beggar.

Same in Boston. In fact I've never seen anyone use the doors at all.

People are definitely mixing up subways and commuter trains. All the doors open on a subway car.

[massoluk]

Him: "I'm sorry, but with all the cameras watching us, I have to write you up." Me: "Look, I know you're doing your job, but you have to understand that this really fucking sucks from my perspective." Him: "I know, man, I hate doing it. Listen, we won't give you a court order summons. You can just mail in your fine. That's the best I could do. It's $75, and it doesn't go on your record or anything."

I know it sucks, but the dude seems very reasonable. You got off very very light man.

[masud]

Man when I was a kid we used to spend the entire ride between cars smoking weed. New York sounds like it sucks now...

[The Faceless Master]

they're giving tickets for crossing thru subway cars in NYC now? damn, i did that shit probably thousands of times before!

[bggrthnjsus]

having lived in two cities with subway rules like that (chicago, nyc) i think i've only actually crossed trains like twice; for some reason it just like never even occurs to me to do

[bggrthnjsus]

also, my stupid ticket story is that i got a $190 ticket for running a red light on my bike, and while the silly bike cop was writing my ticket i witnessed at least 3 other people on bikes run the red light he was writing my ticket at. i would actually argue that it's often safer for a biker to run the red light on a one way street than go on the green in a lot of nyc situations because the bike lane is on the left side and there are left turning cars that have to cross the bike lane in order to turn. 99% of my close calls with cars are with people making left turns without checking the bike lane. actually though those only amount to like 20% of my close calls in total, the other 80% is pedestrians crossing the bike lane without looking. i actually hit a homeless guy the other day who was crossing in the middle of the block (and seemingly drunk); i felt bad because i spilled his cup of change everywhere and i'm not sure we actually gathered all of it back up.

ok vent over.

[grap3fruitman]

Why would they make a door and then legally bar you from going through it?

Don't question America. If you hate freedom, why don't you just get out?

[DoctorWho]

New subway trains in Toronto are good for walking from one end to the other It goes on and on and on and on :)

Was going to post this.

Solves all the problems the OP had.

Most trains have something like this:

The fuck? That's one sexy setup.

[Desmond]

lol US laws

Fines for jaywalking too? When I was in Rome, then Lisbon, people walked around moving cars.

[KHarvey16]

Don't question America. If you hate freedom, why don't you just get out?

The door is for train crews/maintenance to use, or passengers in case of emergency.

[itsgreen]

Is it because between trains you can jump out? (i.e. there isn't a protected corridor around the gap between the cars)?

Here in the Netherlands you can walk from one end to the other..

[YoungHav]

I wish the police would fight crime and help out citizens 100% of the time. Instead they spend half their time collecting tariffs for our majesty.

[KHarvey16]

Is it because between trains you can jump out? (i.e. there isn't a protected corridor around the gap between the cars)? Here in the Netherlands you can walk from one end to the other..

You can actually just slip and fall onto the tracks.

[The Faceless Master]

if they try to give tickets for jaywalking in NYC again, i'm never going back.

remember when they tried to do that shit that one time and people kept doing it anyway, overwhelming the amount of cops there writing tickets?

[WorriedCitizen]

So basicly this rule is because of poorly designed subway trains?

[KHarvey16]

So basicly this rule is because of poorly designed subway trains?

There's no real reason to pass between cars on the subway.

[worldrevolution]

So basicly this rule is because of poorly designed subway trains?

I'd assume it's more for security reasons, especially with how it came into effect after 9/11..it wasn't like that before 2005.

There's no real reason to pass between cars on the subway.

People pass through cars all the time in other places/countries. Crowded cars or like the op trying to get to the back/front to be closer to an exit/escalator/whatever. In Japan I'd commonly walk from one end to the other looking for more space for my baby stroller for instance.

[KHarvey16]

I'd assume it's more for security reasons, especially with how it came into effect after 9/11..it wasn't like that before 2005. People pass through cars all the time in other places/countries. Crowded cars or like the op trying to get to the back/front to be closer to an exit/escalator/whatever. In Japan I'd commonly walk from one end to the other looking for more space for my baby stroller for instance.

You can do all of that before you get on.

[Castor Krieg]

How could I not be whiny? It's such a bullshit quote filler ticket. I didn't do it in a whiny tone if that's what you mean. I just straight up told him, "Dude, this fucking blows," and then stopped talking and waited for him to give me my ticket. I didn't raise my voice. I didn't make a scene. And I was walking through the doors to enter the last car since that's where the exit is at the next stop, which I was getting off at.

But you knew you were not supposed to change the cars, right?

[worldrevolution]

You can do all of that before you get on.

You can survey each car of a train from front to end before the doors close? Good on you then.

[Chili]

Well, they need to deter people from moving between the carriages unnecessarily (except in the case of an emergency) and a fine is the only way to do it. Even if the train is stationary you could still trip and fall. That will cause a delay to the train which is why that behaviour should be penalised (I'm assuming it's all clearly sign posted on the doors, otherwise if it's an obscure rule then that's a bit unfair).

They should also fine people for holding the doors open or generally doing anything that is causing a delay.

[DoctorWho]

Movies in NYC show people walking between cars all the time, I thought it was a regular thing. Then I went to NYC and no one was allowed to do it.

Movies lie.

[Oxn]

I have lived in NYC just about my entire life, and I take the subway everyday.

I think I maybe went through the train car doors once in my life, and its annoying when people do.

If i need to move to another cart, because there is a smelly bum stinking up the whole cart then i wait to the next stop and run across.

[Oxn]

Movies in NYC show people walking between cars all the time, I thought it was a regular thing. Then I went to NYC and no one was allowed to do it. Movies lie.

You can do it, then make sure a cop isnt in either carts. People don't pay attention.

Ive never seen anyone get a ticket before in a subway. People put their legs up or take up 2 seats for their bags.

The moment you see a cop, just stop it.

[Maffis]

So even when the cops do their job it's bad.

[skinnyrattler]

Man the ones on the London underground look like fucking death traps. I figure that safety notice is there for good reason. I don't see why you should get such a hefty fine though... I mean you risked your life not really risking other people's. Money making scheme at the heart of it. Just like parking tickets.

Except if he falls over onto the tracks and it stops the line for a few hours, it costs the system and anybody else delayed. NYC has the biggest rail system in the country. They have to enforce some rules. Sounds like it's a big deal to them.

Quick and dirty google search:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...0090534AAuKD7a

Not that people have fallen and hurt themselves. But their family has a tendency to sue for millions of dollars. Yup, millions of dollars because you did something wrong. I think walking thru the doors, that should be left unlocked in case of emergency, should prevent you from suing. But, love our country.

You can do something wrong and blame other people. Yes, the train wasn't moving. But you did something wrong, they have posted it, people have died and the MTA has lost an untold amount of money over it. Sorry.

http://gothamist.com/2010/12/17/pol_...s_unlocked.php

More info and a picture what the OP may have walked thru (side picture of the outside car):

Everybody knows that you aren't supposed to walk between subway cars (in fact, it is a crime and a $75 fine). But sometimes—when a fight breaks out, say, or that guy with the incredible BO keeps following you down the car—you have to. Which is why city councilwoman Letitia James is demanding that the MTA start unlocking those doors. The MTA, looking out for the safety of its riders and protecting itself from lawsuits, doesn't think that would be a good idea. The thought behind the locked doors is that when the trains are moving, running wide turns and rolling over switches, the gap between cars can be dangerously large. The risks involved in letting people go between cars, they feel, outweigh the risk of keeping them stuck in one. And anyway, they say, if you really needed to get between cars the conductors can unlock them electronically. The MTA has a point, absolutely, but that doesn't mean it isn't a hassle to run between cars when the train is finally in a station. So is there some sort of compromise? If those doors really can be opened electronically, couldn't they open them at least when the train is stopped? No, that would likely cause another headache the minute somebody didn't move fast enough and found themselves locked between cars. Anybody have another solution?

The solution would be to redesign the train (more money, higher fares), lock the doors (what happens in an accident and people need to get out of the car and the doors/escape route don't unlock? big lawsuit) or stop people from walking thru the cars? Maybe more. The difference in the USA is we have a great freedom to sue people/companies when they fuck up and I believe they should fine us when we fuck up.

[Clay Davis]

what a strange rule. it sounds like the trains aren't designed properly and instead of fixing them they introduce this punishable offence. tubes in the UK have those doors and people often use them to move between cars even when the train is in motion.

[skinnyrattler]

Movies in NYC show people walking between cars all the time, I thought it was a regular thing. Then I went to NYC and no one was allowed to do it. Movies lie.

Girls don't scream like banshees when I have sex with them. I try and get them to talk dirty to me and it doesn't work. iknowthefeelingbro.jpg

what a strange rule. it sounds like the trains aren't designed properly and instead of fixing them they introduce this punishable offence. tubes in the UK have those doors and people often use them to move between cars even when the train is in motion.

They probably are old but updating subway cars may be the last thing on our minds. We get into so many fights, in the US, about simple things. Welfare, medicare, health insurance. No way we will agree to pay more in fares for new trains.

[shagg_187]

Cop was being nice to you. You were a douche. Oh well?

[KHarvey16]

You can survey each car of a train from front to end before the doors close? Good on you then.

You can see the cars as they go by. I ride a subway every single day and not once have I felt the need to go through the doors in between cars. If I felt like I needed to move for some reason I'd just go out the regular passenger doors at the next station. Usually if the car is crowded, the whole train is crowded so moving one car wouldn't help that.

[El_TigroX]

I... I do this all the time? I have never heard of this being illegal anywhere?

It says it right on the door on the MTA. People don't see it usually because they wing the door open, but it's there and there are sometimes signs posted at the ends of the train.

[InvincibleAgent]

I don't understand this going through the doors business. The only doors on my trains lead outside. Why would you go wait on the platform when it's not your stop yet?