"Up to 530,000 Won Fine for This Behavior on Buses"... Singapore Cracks Down on 'Nuisance Riders'

Up to 530,000 Won Fine for Nuisance Behavior on Buses

Crackdown on Loud Noise, Feet on Seats, and Eating or Drinking

In Singapore, passengers who put their feet on the seats, play music or videos loudly, or engage in other behaviors that cause discomfort to others on the bus can be fined up to 500 Singapore dollars (approximately 530,000 won). Eating or drinking on the bus and discarding trash are also subject to penalties.

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Singapore Imposes Fines for 'Nuisance Behavior' on Buses

On the 23rd (local time), the BBC reported that the Singapore Land Transport Authority (LTA) began imposing fines of up to 500 Singapore dollars (about 530,000 won) for nuisance behavior on buses, effective September 23. The targeted offenses include putting feet on seats, playing music or videos loudly, consuming food and drinks, and littering.

Obstructing other passengers or acting in a way that may cause danger at bus terminals is also punishable. For more serious violations, such as contaminating public buses, bus transfer facilities, or terminals, the fine may be up to 5,000 Singapore dollars (approximately 5.3 million won).

The new regulations announced on September 21 extend to buses rules that were already enforced on the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system. While consuming food or drinks has been prohibited on the MRT, buses had previously been regulated mainly by individual operators’ rules. With these new measures, nuisance behavior on buses is now officially defined as a legal violation, subject to fines.

According to the LTA, ticket inspectors and authorized bus transfer staff can issue formal violation notices to passengers suspected of breaching the rules. The LTA will then conduct an investigation.

Bus drivers do not have the authority to issue violation notices. This is to allow them to focus on their primary duty of safe driving. However, they can ask passengers to stop disruptive behavior. If the request is ignored, the driver can require the passenger to alight from the bus. In severe cases, the police may become involved.

The LTA stated that passengers with physical or mental health issues will be treated fairly, using discretion as appropriate.

Meanwhile, online discussions have emerged regarding what criteria will be applied in actual enforcement and how effective the regulations will be.

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Global Efforts to Strengthen Regulations on Public Transportation Noise

Efforts to regulate disruptive behavior on public transportation are being observed in various countries around the world.

At the beginning of this year, the city of Krakow, Poland introduced a regulation imposing fines of up to 200 zloty (about 70,000 won) for making noise with mobile phones or other electronic devices that disturb fellow passengers’ peace on public transportation.

In the United Kingdom, railway regulations classify the use of audio devices that may cause discomfort to others on trains and at stations as "anti-social behavior." Some politicians are pushing for a policy to fine up to 1,000 pounds (approximately 1.8 million won) for passengers who play music or videos loudly on any form of public transportation, including buses, without using headphones or earphones.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.