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‘Improper honking’ ends in fines for French World Cup fans
LILLE, France, July 31, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – A handful of football fans in
northeast France are paying the price for celebrating their nation’s World
Cup win a little too loudly.
Police in the town of Tergnier — population 13,000 — issued fines of 35
euros ($41) in the wake of the national team’s World Cup victory this month
to people who carried on honking horns after some neighbours were ready to
call it a night.
After France secured its second World Cup title on July 15, “for a while
there were huge numbers of people out in the streets,” police officer Didier
Aubin told AFP on Tuesday, confirming a local press report which revealed the
fines.
But when calm returned at around 10:00 pm (2000 GMT) some fans still wanted
to drive around honking their horns, while motorcyclists repeatedly revved up
their engines.
“Lots of people who couldn’t care less about football were complaining,
because people were screaming in the streets, honking, and the motorcyclists
were making tons of noise,” Aubin said.
As a result, eight people were received tickets for “improper honking” and
three for revving their motors, he said.
BSS/AFP/MRI/2313 hrs