A SMALL town in France has decided that it wants to ban mobile phones in public spaces.
Residents voted in favour of ending phone use in certain spots in the town – making life a little bit more difficult for tourists and locals.
AlamySeine Port in France has banned the use of mobile phones in certain public places[/caption]
AlamyThe town has a popular riverbank beach spot where visitors assemble in the summer[/caption]
Phones are extremely useful devices for holidaymakers, who use them to find their way around, take photos and translate menus.
However, anyone heading to Seine-Port, a small town near Paris, will soon have to find other ways to make their travelling more convenient.
Of the town’s 2,000+ residents, only 272 voted in the referendum, with 146 votes against 126 going in favour of banning the gadgets in public.
Signs can now be found hanging in the town that read: “Community without screens, let’s protect our children!”
The referendum result has led to the creation of a “screen-free charter” in the town, with alternative activities now to be offered to youngsters, who were the primary focus of the vote.
The mayor, Vincent Paul-Petit has pledged to build both a sports centre and a cinema for children and teenagers to keep them busy and active and crucially away from their screens.
The new decree, set to be announced by the mayor in the coming days, will ban the use of phones and other devices in front of schools, in shops, while walking down the street, or while congregated at large events.
Despite the vote and the new measures being put in place, there will be no actual sanctions for phone use in the town.
Instead, it is seen as merely a symbolic gesture that aims to create a more sociable atmosphere.
After the vote, the Mayor said he was surprised at how close the result was and that he didn’t want to be intrusive.
According to Travel Tomorrow, he said: “I was expecting more of a difference.
“People get the impression that we’re meddling in their lives. I don’t want that.
“But there clearly is a public health problem at play. We have to help them.”
Other strange holiday rules
Being annoying
Anyone deemed to be annoying in the Philippines, could be fined £75.
According to Traveller.au, the 1930 Philippines Revised Penal Code states that a fine of 200 pesos (£3), or jail for up to 30 days, is seen as just punishment for anyone causing “unjust vexation”.
A 2020 amendment was made to the penal code because it was considered to be too vague, while the fine was upped as well.
Now the law defines it as “a course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes substantial emotional distress…and serves no legitimate purpose.”
Running out of petrol
This law is in place on Germany’s Autobahn and could see you having to cough up for a lack of preparation.
According to autoeurope.com, it is seen as “a preventable circumstance”, and leads to stopping on the autobahn, which is prohibited.
Anyone with an empty tank will have to pay out between €30-70 (£27-62) for their troubles.
Wearing high heels
In Greece, by law, people are prohibited from wearing high heels to lots of famous tourist attractions, like the Acropolis and the Epidarus Theatre in the Peloponnese region.
This is to preserve the history and ancient stone ruins of the iconic sites.
The ban, introduced in 2009, was put in place because the sharp-soled shoes were causing damage to the national treasures.
Among the popular places to visit in and around Seine-Port are Chateau de Vaux-le-Vicomte – described as “one of the most important castles in France” by France this Way.
They also recommend a trip to both Chateau de Fontainebleau, and the Forest of Fontainebleau which surrounds the castle.
The forest is “especially popular with Parisians who want to escape from the city for the day,” while the castle is labelled as “one of the grandest in France”.
The town is also known as having “the beach by the Seine” with people gathering along the riverbanks on hot days and taking a dip in the water.
Getting to Seine-Port requires a quick change in Paris’ Gare de Lyon, after which it takes just over an hour.
A night for two in the small phone-free town will cost around £86.
Meanwhile, this seaside town in Ireland also banned kids from using their phones – and the results were surprising.
And selfies are banned in all of these different places around the world.
GettyThe phone ban is in place in certain places throughout the town (stock image)[/caption]