The Seat That Burns

Concerned by an increasing number of attacks on cab drivers, Parisian taxi drivers in 1987 began outfitting their cars with a device called "le siege qui brule" ('the seat that burns'), which could electrify unruly passengers with 52,000 volts.

“With the push of a discreetly placed pedal, the taxi driver can send the electricity coursing for one second through the back seat, stunning the passenger with a jolt to the back of the neck.”

As far as I can tell, the devices were outlawed a few months after their introduction.

Hazleton Standard-Speaker - Oct 23, 1987

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Mon Mar 18, 2019
Category: Crime | Motor Vehicles | 1980s

Comments

I need this for the front and rear passenger seats in the car. When passengers begin shouting out conflicting directions, I flip a switch, press a pedal, etc., and all will be smokey and quiet in a few seconds while I get my bearings.

agent j

Posted by agent j on 03/18/19 at 07:59 AM

I was thinking more along the line of discipline for the brats in the back seat.

"She's touching me!"
"Shut UP!" ZAP!

Posted by KDP on 03/18/19 at 10:21 PM

What's to keep the driver from using it to take the passenger's wallet and then dumping them in an alley?

Posted by Phideaux on 03/19/19 at 01:35 AM

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