Pinay fined for chewing gum at Dubai bus stop

A Filipina commuter was fined for chewing gum inside an air-conditioned bus shelter in the United Arab Emirates, a UAE news site reported Friday.

The Filipina claimed she was not aware that chewing gum was covered by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) rules banning eating, drinking and smoking inside the shelters.

“I have been using public transport for six years and I usually chew gum as a habit. I never thought that even chewing gum could attract a fine. I know it is not allowed in the bus and on the Metro, but I didn’t know there is an eating ban in the bus shelters and I am not sure if chewing gum amounts to eating,” Gulf News quoted the Filipina saleswoman as saying.

But a senior RTA official said the ban has always been there, adding the inspectors were just doing their work.

“Under offence No 29 of the offence list for the bus passenger, chewing gum is deemed to be eating. It is an offence and the fine is Dh100,” said Tareq Al Gaith, Director of Franchising and Enforcement, at RTA’s Public Transport Agency.

On the other hand, the Filipina also questioned the behavior of the inspector who informed her of the fine in the incident last Tuesday. She said he spoke to her as if "I am a criminal," adding the experience "was really humiliating."

"The inspectors should show some respect to people. I was more put off by the way he treated a young mother who was eating because she needed energy to suckle her baby. She pleaded and informed him about her situation but he wouldn’t listen. They should at least have shown some humanitarian considerations,” she said. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News

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