10 Laws in S’pore That Many S’poreans Might Have Broken Unknowingly

Last Updated on 2023-03-10 , 3:43 pm

Singapore, the fine city – fine in terms of an A+ standard of living, and also the many fines that the country hands out.

Designed to keep the city-state clean and its citizens in line, these harsh laws clearly work – even though some of them might sound so bizarre that they make the infamous gum ban pale in comparison.

1. Singing in Public

Believe it or not – channeling your inner Beyoncé could get you jailed. According to Singapore Statutes Online, singing, reciting or uttering any ballad or obscene song in public is illegal. If you’re caught breaking this law, you can be charged with 3 months’ imprisonment, a fine or both.

2. Mooching Off Other People’s Wifi

According to Singapore’s Computer Misuse and Cybersecurity Act, using another person’s WiFi is considered as hacking. The penalty for this is a whopping $10,000 fine, three years in jail, or both. So the next time you’re trawling your available networks in search of one that’s not locked, don’t do it.

3. Tricking Someone to Believe He/She’s Cursed

Tricking someone to think that he would be cursed if he/she did not obey you could earn you a year behind bars. Yikes.

4. Forgetting to Flush a Toilet

Take care to to ensure you flush before leaving a public toilet – or else you might be slapped with a $150 fine. And don’t even think of urinating in elevators. They’re equipped with Urine Detection Devices that identify the pungent scent, sets off an alarm and shuts you in until the police arrive.

5. Walking Around Naked in Your Own House

Think you’re alone? Think again. If you’re caught walking around in the nude – even if it’s in the privacy of your own home – you may face pornography charges, which can lead to a three-month imprisonment, $2,000 fine, or both.

6. Hugging without permission

Attempting a gesture of physical affection in public without permission is seen as “outraging the modesty of another”, and comes along with a hefty fine. Make sure whoever you’re hugging doesn’t have a vendetta against you, or else you’re done for.

7. Annoying someone with a musical instrument

Much like #1, playing an instrument in a public place in “a manner as to cause or be likely to cause annoyance to any person lawfully using a public road or in any public place shall be guilty of an offense”, and includes a fine of up to $1,000.

8. Flying a kite that interferes with public traffic

You can get a fine of up to $5,000 for flying a kite or “playing any game” that gets in the way of traffic in any public road.

9. Committing Suicide is Illegal

If you fail to, well, kill yourself, please do note that you have committed an offense. Suicide is illegal in Singapore and is punishable with a one-year jail term after a botched attempt. So it’s probably best not to do it.

10. Making Noise After 10pm

Two’s company, three’s a crowd. Literally. Crazy house parties of more than two people after 10pm are considered illegal gatherings, and will invite the police to your doorstep. On top of the no-alcohol rule (where drinking alcohol from 10.30pm to 7am is Illegal), Singapore really knows how to party.