Key facts
- Singaporean bus passengers can be fined up to S$500 for playing loud audio, placing feet on seats, eating, drinking, or littering.
- More serious offenses, such as causing obstruction or soiling public transport facilities, carry fines up to S$5,000.
- The new regulations were announced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on Monday.
- Bus drivers will not have the authority to issue fines but can ask disruptive passengers to alight.
- Kraków, Poland, introduced similar rules earlier this year, with fines up to 200 złoty.
- The UK has existing laws against using sound-producing equipment that annoys others, with potential fines up to £1,000.
Bus passengers in Singapore now face fines for disruptive behavior, including playing loud music, putting their feet on seats, eating, drinking, or littering. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on Monday that these actions can result in fines of up to S$500 ($391; £293). More serious offenses, such as causing obstruction or danger to fellow commuters, or soiling public transport facilities, could lead to fines of up to S$5,000.
The LTA stated that these measures aim to foster a safer, more considerate, and pleasant public transport environment. The new regulations align with existing rules on Singapore's Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) network, where offenses like eating have long carried penalties. Previously, bus rules were largely company policies enforced by drivers.
Under the new rules, authorized bus staff, including ticket inspectors and interchange staff, can issue official notices to passengers suspected of offenses. Bus drivers, referred to as "captains," will not have the authority to issue fines but can still address disruptive behavior and may ask passengers to alight if they refuse to cooperate. In severe cases, police intervention may be required.
Singapore's move reflects a global trend of cities cracking down on public transport nuisances. Earlier this year, Kraków, Poland, introduced fines of up to 200 złoty ($52; £39) for disruptive behaviors like playing music or loud calls without headphones. In the United Kingdom, existing laws allow for fines up to £1,000 for using "sound-producing equipment" without permission if it annoys others.