A Montreal man was hit with a fine of $101 (about £60) last week after offering "free hugs" to passers-by at a Metro station.

Tommy Boucher was stood at Montreal's Jean-Talon Metro station on November 22, wearing his green "Free Hugs" t-shirt, when he was approached by local transport officials who asked if he had a permit.

Writing about the incident on his blog, Boucher, who has been giving out free hugs for around a year, said he was surprised by the question: "The inspector then opened (his) little 'by-laws' booklet and turned pages until he figured out something could stick with what I was doing."

Boucher was fined under STM bylaw R-036, section VIII, subsection II, rule 17, which states: "In a Metro station, after obtaining the authorization of the Societe, it is permitted to offer for sale or lease services or merchandise, or to exhibit or distribute such services or merchandise, subject to the other restrictions in the present bylaw. Under any other circumstance or in any other place, such activities are forbidden."

According to Boucher's blog, the officer told him he can wear the shirt, "but I can't open my arms."