What a fine city!

Hi everybody!

Some of you have been asking whether we have found our dream house yet… well, we've been busy viewing quite a few condo's as they call it, but unfortunately we have no exciting news on that front yet. As soon as we have, you’ll read it on this weblog!

Anyway, just so you can’t say you didn’t know when you come and visit us… ;-), here’s a quick copy & paste on current fines & penalties in Singapore… (SGD 1,00 = EUR 0.50). Don't let all this put you off though!

Smoking
Smoking is not allowed in public service vehicles, museums, libraries, lifts, theaters, cinemas, air-conditioned restaurants, hair salons, supermarkets, department stores, and government offices. Offenders can be fined up to S$1,000. While it is an offense to smoke in air-conditioned eating places, smoking is allowed in air-conditioned pubs, discos, karaoke bars, and nightspots.

Spitting
Spitting in public places is an offense subject to a fine of S$1,000 for first-time offenders and S$2,000 for repeat offenders.

Toilets
In Singapore, it is an offense not to flush public toilets after use. Those convicted face a fine of up to S$150 for the first offense, S$500 for the second offense, and S$1,000 for subsequent offenses.

Chewing gum
On chewing gum, the rules are less clear. Some sources mention that bringing in chewing gum for personal consumption is allowed, others state that it's not. Here's one quote:
As an extension of the "no littering" mantra, the import, sale and possession of chewing gum is banned. You are also not allowed to bring in chewing gum for your own consumption. In short, no chewing gum whatsoever. This rule was introduced because of the high cost and difficulty in removing stuck chewing gum from public premises. In particular, chewing gum stuck on the Mass Rapid Transit train doors stopped the trains from moving. It happened a few times and those were a few times too many.

Drugs
A definite no-no. The death penalty is mandatory for those convicted of trafficking, manufacturing, importing or exporting more than 15g of heroin, 30g of morphine, 30g of cocaine, 500g of cannabis, 200g of cannabis resin and 1.2kg of opium. Possessing these quantities is deemed as prima facie evidence of trafficking. In other words, if you possess these quantities (and possession means you had control of them), you are deemed to be a trafficker and therefore subject to the death penalty.
If you possess less than the quantities mentioned above you face imprisonment up to 20-30 years, and 15 strokes of the cane.
For unauthorized consumption, there is a maximum of 10 years' imprisonment or fine of S$20,000 or both.

Jaywalking
Pedestrians crossing a road within 50 meters of a pedestrian crossing risk paying a S$50 fine.

Littering
Any person convicted of littering faces a fine of up to S$1,000 for the first offense. Repeat offenders may be fined S$2,000, and made to do community service (cleaning public places).

Eating on the MRT (metro)
Another thing to take note of is to never, ever eat on the Mass-Rapid-Transit (MRT) system. There is a hefty S$500 fine is you eat anything on the train – so if you’re hungry, be sure to leave the eating until you’re off the train.

So long!

- xxx -

Timmo & Yaisa