Smoking permitted, fee £200.

If you saw a sign that said 'Smoking permitted, fee £200.', you'd be surprised, but it basically means the same as 'Smoking prohibited, fine £200.' which we see everywhere. Why do we have to specify the punishment? Isn't it enough to say 'YOU CAN'T DO THAT'? I guess authority is so used to rebelious youth answering with, 'Or what?', that they now pre-empt the question. But surely displaying the punishment means this is now the official and only punishment. £200 a fag would put most people off, but what if there's a millionaire on the train? If he's willing to shell out two grand he can puff his way through 10 Bensons with impunity.

Some of these signs advertise relative bargains. There's one in Gateshead Metro preventing access to the tunnels -fine £50, that's not bad for a day of urban pot-holing. And the emergency stop on most trains costs £200, surely as exciting as a parachute jump or go-carting. A bit pricy, but as a once in a lifetime experience, it must be worth £200 to someone.