Singapore Enforces Up To S$500 Fines For Misbehaviour On Public Buses

Singapore has started enforcing new regulations on behaviour aboard public buses, including an immediate fine of up to S$500 (US$390). The move brings bus conduct under a penalty system that aligns with existing rules governing passenger behaviour on Singapore’s MRT railway system.

What Singapore is enforcing

The regulations cover putting feet up on seats, playing loud audio on a phone and making a nuisance of oneself in other ways. The listed behaviour also includes eating, drinking and littering.

The enforcement is presented as Singapore doing something about uncivilised behaviour on public buses. The fine can be imposed immediately and can reach S$500 (US$390). The rules therefore extend to buses a standard of passenger conduct that already applies on the city state’s MRT system.

Hong Kong has similar rules

The comparison also points to Hong Kong, where similar regulations have long existed for the MTR network under its own by-laws. The source says awareness of those rules is likely low, adding: “Probably not, because nobody cares, but they do exist.”

On Hong Kong’s trains, playing audio loudly is punishable by a fine of up to HK$2,000 (US$250). The same penalty applies to placing feet on seats and ignoring bans on eating or drinking.

The comparison is not framed as a competition, but as a call for “a spanking rather than caning”. Yonden Lhatoo is identified as Managing Editor at the South China Morning Post.

Source: South China Morning Post