“It was nice for the neighborhood”: Montpellier shopkeeper fined 135 euros for ping-pong table in the street

Même la petite table devant la boutique pour boire le café a dû être retirée. Midi Libre – L. D.

Dans le quartier des halles Laissac, les riverains sont un peu désabusés. La célèbre table de ping-pong du caviste Les Pensées du vin a été retirée. En cause, une contravention pour embarras de la voie publique.

“It's not very smart, in the middle of the Olympic Games while the Lebrun brothers are being celebrated everywhere, here, they have to remove our table and punish us for promoting ping-pong.” Ludovic Delzenne takes the situation with humor, even if he doesn't really understand the point.

Because the wine merchant who has been established for decades, rue du Plan du Parc between rue de la Saunerie and the Halles Laissac is known for creating a great atmosphere in the neighborhood.

For a few years now, he has even opted to buy a ping-pong table which he takes out occasionally and leaves at available for passers-by to hit a few balls. A much appreciated initiative in this pedestrian zone.

135 euro fine

But in July, this famous table became a problem.“Municipal police officers – very friendly – fined me because I don't have the right to put objects in the street. It's the law, I don't dispute the fine but there are still double standards…”

The man therefore accepted the fine that he would receive a few days later in the amount of 135 euros, which he would pay immediately. But the offence described as “obstruction of a public highway by depositing or abandoning without necessity an object, material or waste obstructing free movement” is not unanimous in the neighbourhood. Especially since according to the ping-pong table, it is the small tables and chairs set up in front of the shops that pose a problem.

“It allowed us to sit down and drink our coffee outside,” explains Ludovic Delzenne. And it also relieved the elderly who went shopping: a little break sitting in the shade for a few minutes was always welcome.