I'm looking very forward to reaching Singapore! It is such a beautiful, safe and wonderful city/country and I'm also looking forward to getting my teeth cleaned and my hair cut! Unfortunately, that means I won't have time to do some other things I'd like to do there, but some things must take priority.
Singapore has a reputation for having very stringent laws. I remember the "caning" incident that took place in 1984 when an 18 year old American teenager was found guilty of vandalism there and the resulting crisis between Singapore and the US. After pleas from then President Clinton and the US, the young man only received 4 of the 6 lashings he had been sentenced to.
I was thinking of that as we were filling out some of our entry documents. I'm cutting and pasting a few that we will be careful to adhere to. One might even need to wear a souvenir t-shirt to help remember the laws when visiting Singapore - a fine city!
Re: vaping - not only is it illegal in Singapore, it is also illegal in Surabaya.
- Chewing Gum: Selling or bringing in gum (except dental/medicinal) is prohibited; fines can exceed $500, with import fines up to $10,000.
- Smoking: Smoking in restricted areas (e.g., covered walkways, underpasses, restaurants) leads to hefty composition fines.
- Littering:First-time offenders can be fined up to $1,000, with subsequent offenses reaching higher amounts.
- Public Transport: Eating, drinking, or smoking in trains (MRT) or stations leads to fines of $500+.
- Vaping/E-cigarettes: Possession and use of vaporizers are illegal, leading to severe fines.
- Jaywalking: Crossing the road outside designated areas can result in fines.
- Illegal Parking: Penalties are often $35 or higher depending on the violation type.
- Speeding/Red Lights: Fines vary based on speed/offense, often with demerit points (e.g., $200-$500+ and 6-12 demerit points).
- Mobile Phone Use: Using a mobile phone while driving can lead to a $1,000 fine for first-time offenders.
Fines can typically be paid via the following methods:
- Police Fines (Traffic): Pay via Singpass.
- Parking Fines (URA): Pay via AXS stations or the AXS m-Station app.
- Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Fines: Pay via MOM Workplace Safety and Health eServices.
- Drugs: Harsh penalties, including the death penalty for trafficking.
- Vandalism: Punishable by fines, jail time, and caning.
- Public Disorder/Assault: Strict laws against disorderly behavior.
Barbara: It is so nice to be in Singapore, and then anywhere else looks dirty. My hotels always had the rule that you could not eat Durian in the rooms or lobbies-but you could eat it on the street! You will have so much fun. When I was there, the car rental company "assigned" me 2 cars. One had an even number license plate, one had an odd. Apparently to thin traffic, the license plates allow you to drive certain days-even plate numbers for even days of the month. Parking was also interesting as I had to get passes. The food there was amazing and the people were all very kind and courteous. When I drove into Malaysia, there definitely was a difference. And Kuala Lumpur was not so large. I got to stay at Raffles Hotel on one trip! Alas, all my friends there have moved to US and Europe.
ReplyDeleteOh my word, you are SO brave!! And on the "wrong" side of the road! I wonder what people with only one car do - go to work every other day? ha! Supposedly Singapore is the most expensive country in the world to own a car - 3-4 times more than in the US or UK. Our driver told us about the mandatory Certificate of Entitlement which often cost more than the car itself! Even with this, there is plenty of traffic on the highways but it's easy to see why so many use public transport.
ReplyDeleteIt was easier to drive in Singapore than in Scotland!
DeleteI won't be driving in either place! A cab, Uber or Grab for me!!
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