By Philip Newman
The Transit Committee of the Transit Authority approved the new rules Monday with final endorsement expected by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. If given the nod, the rules would take effect on Oct.1.Although the penalty for moving between subway cars, long an escape route from menacing fellow riders, foul odors or fist fights, could bring a $75 fine, police said common sense would govern enforcement of the new regulations.”If a subway rider is moving between cars because of a bad odor, that's reasonable and they are not getting a summons,” said Henry Cronin, chief of the New York Police Department Transit Bureau.Some transit advocates were not fully assured.”If they have a rule, it needs to be easily understood by the public and easy to interpret by law enforcement officers and this doesn't pass that test,” said Neysa Pranger of the Straphangers Campaign.Transit Authority President Lawrence Reuter said a subway rider need only wait until the next stop and walk along the platform to the next car.Transit officials said the ban on changing cars is an attempt to make travel safer — 13 people have been killed and 117 injured in the past nine years from riding between subway cars – but it would also make panhandling and selling merchandise more difficult. Both are already illegal.Other conduct to be outlawed includes putting feet on a seat, straddling an on-board bicycle, drinking from an open container (it's okay on subway platforms but not on trains), wearing in-line skates or bringing scooters into cars. Fines range from $25 to $100.On the other hand, the committee decided to cancel a prohibition on photography and video taping inside subway stations and trains, an issue that generated much controversy. Also abandoned was a rule against putting packages on empty seats, provided they do not inconvenience other straphangers.You can reach reporter Philip Newman by e-mail at news@timesledger or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 136
