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A woman who was fined 鈧�150 for attempting to carry a plant on the Paris metro has now been refunded, after much media coverage and online debate about what passengers can take on the network.

The traveller - a 24-year-old journalist - was handed the fine by transport operator RATP on April 6, for attempting to take a giant bird of paradise (Strelitzia Nicolai) plant onto a Line 3 metro train at R茅publique station. She was stopped as she walked, carrying the plant, to take a metro inside the station. After paying the fine, she was allowed to board with the plant.

Bulky luggage?

The woman - called Salom茅 - took to social media to express her disbelief at the behaviour of the metro controllers, who took her Navigo metro pass and ID for a 鈥渃heck鈥� as she attempted to board.

She said: 鈥淎fter several minutes without an explanation, I asked what was happening. And then, they told me that carrying a tall plant is considered to be an infraction, as it is considered to be cumbersome.

鈥淸The agent] had the audacity to tell me that I simply needed to take another form of transport next time. Really eco-friendly, to have to rent a car to transport a simple plant,鈥� she added sarcastically.

She claimed that 鈥渙n the metro signs, it says that bulky luggage is banned, but that packages, bags, and luggage that you can carry, as long as you don鈥檛 disturb other passengers, are allowed鈥�. 

鈥淪poiler: It was very easy for me to carry the plant,鈥� she said. The plant - since named 鈥楶rune鈥� - measures 130-160 cm tall, and 25cm wide. Salom茅 had just bought it from a plant shop while shopping with a friend.

She added: 鈥淎 bit of education and explanation never does any harm, rather than going straight to hitting people with fines, without taking the time to explain.鈥�

After sparking much debate and opposition, RATP has now backtracked on its position and issued a refund to Salom茅 (despite already-paid fines not usually being eligible for a ).

What are the rules on luggage on metro trains in Paris?

The RATP has clarified its rules about 鈥渃umbersome and bulky luggage鈥� on its network (metro, trains, bus, and trams).

On its website, : 鈥溾�楽uitcases or other packages must be less than 75 cm in size. Packages up to two metres long, but no more than 20 cm in any other dimension, are permitted provided that you hold them upright.鈥�

The plant in this case was technically five centimetres too wide, at 25 cm, but Salom茅 has maintained that it was less than two metres tall, and that she could carry it easily to avoid disturbing other passengers.