Before I moved to Singapore, I was a lawyer for six years, so I could not resist to find out about the rules and regulations in Singapore. Better be prepared, right!? I ran into some interesting rules during this “case-study”. If you’re going to Singapore, be aware!
1. Chewing gum prohibited
Importing (and selling) chewing gum is prohibited in Singapore. You’ll risk a fine of SGD 100,000 (about € 60.000,=) or being sentenced to prison for a term not exceeding two years, or both, for the first offence and a fine of SGD 200,000 and/or being sentenced to prison for a term not exceeding three years for subsequent violations of the law [i].
So, it’s not a crime to chew gum and you can have it for yourself, but you can’t bring gum into Singapore or buy it there. At least, the streets are gum free!
[i] Section 3 and 7 of the Regulation of Imports and Exports (Chewing Gum) Regulations
2. Flushing the public toilet and urinating in the elevator
You’re violating the law if you don’t flush the public toilet after use. Urinating in the elevator (specifically!) and other public space is forbidden [ii]. It seems to me that enforcement of violation of the first crime is difficult, unless you’re caught red-handed.
But if you’re really in need for a toilet and there’s no public toilet available, don’t urinate in an elevator! In Singapore some elevators are equipped with Urine Detection Devices; if they detect the smell of urine, the doors will lock and an alarm will ring. I guess it was necessary!?
[ii] Section 16 resp. 15 of the Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations
3. Nudity at home
You’ll risk a fine of SGD 2,000 and/or imprisonment of a maximum of three months if you walk around naked in your own home (and get caught). Under Section 27A of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act, Chapter 184, a person cannot be naked in a private place while being exposed to public view [iii]. And not only a police officer who sees you naked has the right to enter your home without your authorization and use force, if necessary, to arrest you; everyone who sees you committing this crime has the right to arrest you and deliver you to the nearest police station.
So, before taking your clothes off at home after a hot and humid day in Singapore, draw the curtains first!
[iii] Section 27A and 28 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act
4. Singing in public
It’s an offence to make annoying or inconvenient noise – by any instrument or other means – in a public place [iv]. This law is also to prevent people from singing obscene songs, causing any inconvenience to others. If you are found guilty of this offence, you risk having to pay a fine not exceeding SGD 1,000.
This rule is hard for me, because I love to sing. Unfortunately, the sound I produce isn’t exactly soft on the ears… I’ll try to reduce my singing in public places. Actually, wearing a facemask in public places (due to COVID-19) makes it quite impossible to sing.
[iv] Section 14 of the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act
5. Crossing the road
Any pedestrian, cyclist, mobility vehicle user or “PMD rider” who is within 50 metres of either side of a pedestrian crossing, has to use the pedestrian crossing for the purpose of crossing the road [v]. To make it clear where you can cross the road, Singapore is fúll of traffic sings. You risk having to pay a fine when you’re “Dutch crossing”.
[v] Section 3 of the Road Traffic (Pedestrian Crossings) Rules
6. Don’t spit
This rule is stipulated in no less than two Singaporean rulings. Under the Environmental Public Health (Public Cleansing) Regulations, it’s illegal to spit, or expel mucous from the nose, upon or onto any street or upon or onto the floor or other part of a public service vehicle, a place of public resort or any place to which the public has access [vi]. According to the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act [vii], you risk a fine not exceeding SGD 1,000 if you spit in any coffee shop, market, eating house, school house, theater or public building, or in any omnibus, railway carriage or other public conveyance, or on any wharf or jetty, or in any public road, or on any five-foot way or sidewalk of any public road, or in any other place to which the public has or may have access (yes, it’s that specific).
You are also committing this offence when a bug flies into your mouth!
For me singing in public was one thing I was afraid of, but after writing this, I think I’ll be fine. I will try not to offend anyone with my singing. The other rules are fine by me!
NB. In Singapore a number of strokes with a rattan cane can be added to your prison sentence: “caning”. The minimum amount of strokes is 3 and the maximum amount is 24. Caning is only applied on adult men until the age of 50.
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