A Smoker Was Caught Smoking at an HDB Staircase Landing & Fined $200 At 10:14 pm

Lest you’re unaware, Singapore has begun a serious crackdown on cigarettes in Singapore.

Not that it’s exactly a new thing, however (seeing how Singapore has been trying to curb it for like forever), but it wasn’t until recently that the measures have seemed really apparent, even to a layman like Tom Perinsky the Fourth.

Take, for example, the Orchard Road-centric designated smoking spots. Or the ever-increasing areas you can’t smoke in Singapore.

But if for some reason you’re still not convinced, well, how about this?

A Smoker Was Caught Smoking at Staircase Landing, & Was Fined $200.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen (with a stick between their teeth).

The war’s begun.

But seriously though, what happened?

On 19 October, Facebook page All Singapore Stuff posted a photo of an S$200 smoking fine ticket.

But while that might not seem very interesting, what really stands out is one particular aspect:

The location.

For apparently, the smoker was fined for smoking not near a school, not near a bus stop or even near Tom Perinsky the Fourth’s house, but for smoking at an HDB area.

Indeed, according to the ticket, the offence was committed “between the 7th floor and 8th floor” of an HDB block in Toa Payoh at 10:14 p.m.

Which would happen to fit within rules and regulations, seeing how the National Environment Agency website dictates common areas in residential buildings, such as common corridors, void decks and stairwells to be off-limits to smokers.

And for the record, the list of banned areas has been defined as any common area of residential premises or building, including any atrium, courtyard or lobby.

Subsequently, the Internet rises

Although contrary to what one might think, it’s not all for the same reason.

Some, for example, chided the smoker for being posting such an ironical warning.

Others chided the government (if not, who?).

Some served as the Lobang kings of the Net.

And last but not least, some not so subtly voted for the Smokers’ Party.

No excuses

Lest you’re wondering, smoking in any HDB common area is not allowed under any circumstance. And yes, that includes light rain, heavy rain or even Tornado 101.

In fact, just last year, a Singaporean man was fined a total of S$200 for smoking under a covered walkway, even though he alleged that it was raining.

And there’s even a video on it, though it has since been taken down.

Long story short

Don’t smoke anywhere near an HDB estate (unless it’s in your own house of course).

Or rather…

Don’t smoke at all.

…

Wait, what’s this chanting I hear outside my window?

JUST KIDDING.