# Is it a crime to walk between subway cars in NYC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 11, 2016, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-crime-to-walk-between-subway-cars-in-nyc/765631 "2016-09-11T08:09:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-crime-to-walk-between-subway-cars-in-nyc/765631/21 "2016-09-12T11:45:21Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I myself, or, I, for one, have never thought that “crime” was connected to only one type of punishment, which, as we know can take many forms for many fits. > > Other people besides **Bones** really walk around with that definition? Am I in a minority? > > Not worth a new OP. There’s actually a [Penal Law](http://ypdcrime.com/penal.law/article10.htm?zoom_highlight=definition+of+crime) definition in NYS that’s close. > [@](#): > > 1. “Crime” means a misdemeanor or a felony. And part of the definition of a misdemeanor is that it is an offense for which a sentence of more than 15 days but not more than one year _can_ be imposed. (not that a sentence of imprisonment _was_ imposed) And the effect of leaving certain offenses out of the definition of “crime” is that when you are asked “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” you don’t have to disclose traffic infractions , offenses classified as violations under the PL , or violations of various other rules and regulations that can \*only \*be punished by a fine. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-crime-to-walk-between-subway-cars-in-nyc/765631/22 "2016-09-12T21:14:22Z")
Thanks to all re a crime and a “crime.” Ignorance well fought. Walk between cars, egs: dash in last second, realize stinky bum is in one. ditto, car has no a/c. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-crime-to-walk-between-subway-cars-in-nyc/765631/23 "2016-09-12T21:48:47Z")
Without getting into questions of whether it’s a crime, or an offense, or a violation, or whatever, you’re not supposed to do it. That said, I have fond memories of riding in between the cars. When I was in high school, part of my trip was via an elevated line (from the 82nd Street stop on the 7 line, to Grand Central, then the 4 or 5 to 86th Street, for you New Yorkers). On summer days, once the 7 emerged from its tunnel, if it was a nice day, I, and sometimes friends, would go out between the cars. Quite pleasant. Also stupid, of course, but what do you expect from high school kids? Even stupider was the practice of boarding the train between cars. If the doors were closing as you arrived on the platform, the more adventurous riders would jump on between cars and then enter the car from outside. This one will actually get you killed, very unpleasantly. I’m sure it’s happened. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2016, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-crime-to-walk-between-subway-cars-in-nyc/765631/24 "2016-09-12T23:04:40Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Thanks to all re a crime and a “crime.” Ignorance well fought. > > Walk between cars, egs: > dash in last second, realize stinky bum is in one. > ditto, car has no a/c. Yep. If at a normally busy time one car is empty, it’s for a reason… probably a “gritty” 😉 one. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-crime-to-walk-between-subway-cars-in-nyc/765631/25 "2016-09-13T00:21:05Z")
One reason it is possible is that some trains will have doors on one side at some stops and on the other side at others. The guy who controls the doors has to be able to move from one car to the next to cover the doors. I could be misremgering (it would have been from 60 years ago) but I think that people could and did walk between cars on Philadelphia’s Broad St. Subway (but not on the Market/Frankford subway/el.) ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2016, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-crime-to-walk-between-subway-cars-in-nyc/765631/26 "2016-09-13T00:38:25Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > One reason it is possible is that some trains will have doors on one side at some stops and on the other side at others. The guy who controls the doors has to be able to move from one car to the next to cover the doors. This is no longer an issue, as almost all current rolling stock now has full-width operator’s cabs. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-crime-to-walk-between-subway-cars-in-nyc/765631/27 "2016-09-14T04:23:23Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Yep. If at a normally busy time one car is empty, it’s for a reason… probably a “gritty” 😉 one. My question wasn’t about “gritty” cars. When I was visiting NY, almost every time I rode the subway, there were “carwalkers”. I’d say that between any two stops, there would be one or two people who opened the doors and walked to another car, even though the car I was sitting in was perfectly good for me (not crowded, and not “gritty”.) ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-crime-to-walk-between-subway-cars-in-nyc/765631/28 "2016-09-14T07:25:24Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Hasn’t changed since 1971, when Sylvester Stallone made Woody Allen nervous: (short clip): [https://youtu.be/blOUfHFaNvs](https://youtu.be/blOUfHFaNvs) [I liked Charles Bronson’s reaction better…](https://youtu.be/of-57Ivfwz8?t=38) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2016, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-crime-to-walk-between-subway-cars-in-nyc/765631/29 "2016-09-14T11:37:13Z")
> [@Bones\_Daley](#): > > There is a difference between a crime and an offense, shirley … > [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Huh? / not snark. > > And my name is **Leo**. I believe the appropriate response was “I am serious… and don’t call me Shirley.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-a-crime-to-walk-between-subway-cars-in-nyc/765631.md?page=1)