The MTA has a message for selfish passengers: It will no longer stand for riders who refuse to give up reserved seats to the elderly or disabled.
A new poster campaign gives fair warning to seat hogs that they face a lot more than dirty looks — the signs say violators are breaking the law.
Offenders can get up to 10 days in jail and fines of $25 to $50.
The signs are going up this week in thousands of subway cars and buses.
The law has long been on the books — but transit officials are hoping the in-your-face ad campaign will lead to better compliance.
Clearly marked “priority” spots are located at each end of subway cars and usually near the bus driver.
Similar posters appeared on subways and buses in 1999 and 2004, but didn’t mention the legal ramifications.
The posters also explain that “not all disabilities are visible.”
The disabled include people who are legally blind, have congestive heart failure, are being given chemotherapy or have epilepsy.
Even someone with a cane is eligible to ask for a priority seat.
(Source: NY Post)
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4 Responses
The law is largely unenforceable unless the police want to take out time from chasing muggers OR unless the people in New York take up Derekh Eretz.
i dont think this will be carried out unless theres policeman on each cart all day!!! how can they possibly make sure people follow this rule??
#2 – yes, it is very traumatic the first time someone felt they had to give me their seat since I was “old”, it happens to the best of us
Plus, legally, if it isn’t obvious someone is disabled, a ticket will be thrown out. In practice, the police aren’t likely to issue any. If you don’t realize someone is handicapped, neither will the police.
This should not be a problem for the frum since we already observe “mipnai sayva takum”.