The Mobility and Transport Authority (AMT) has already applied fines for “violation of passengers’ duties, including the use of sound devices”, on public transport, since “the use of sound devices or causing noise in a way that disturbs other passengers is an administrative offence”.

This information was released by the newspaper Público, which highlighted that the agency did not specify under what circumstances it fined the passengers. However, it did so with railway operators, as it does not have the competence to do so in road, sea and river transport.

The AMT said it received 121 complaints - via email, Complaints Book and Electronic Complaints Book - described as “Lack of civility/aggressiveness of passengers”, which includes the annoying use of cell phones, last year. Even so, this is a residual value from a total of 29 thousand complaints.

The agency pointed out, that “the urbanity of passengers is one of the factors that contribute to a good experience using public transport, and the use of cell phones on hands-free should be subject to inspection, but also the subject of awareness campaigns for appropriate and urban use of cell phones”, which is why it has recommended that operators “adopt the necessary measures to solve the issue”.

Público contacted several passenger transport companies, with CP reporting that the possibility of implementing “silent carriages” is currently “under analysis”.

The use of sound equipment or noise that is disturbing to other passengers may result in fines of between 50 and 250 euros, according to Decree-Law No. 9/2015.