News

4 New Laws That Have Taken Effect Since 1 Jan 2020

Siti Hawa

2020-01-06 , 12:00 pm

Singapore is a fine city.

No, really. It is, isn’t it? I mean just look at it, it’s gorgeous.

But you probably knew what I was referring to when I used the word ‘fine’.

And it’s just about to get fine-r.

4 New Laws That Has Taken Effect Since 1 Jan 2020

There are four new laws in Singapore which have already taken effect at the start of our new year on 1 January 2020.

1. Minimum Smoking Age Is Now 20

Gone were the days where you had to be a tender 18-year-old to be able to light one up. Yes, once upon a time, back in the day, the legal age for smoking was 18-years-old.

Now, it’s 20. The government has increased the minimum age to buy, use, sell, own and distribute tobacco products to 20 in 2020.

They also have plans to finally increase the minimum age to 21 in 2021 where it will stop.

Those who flout the law and are caught can be fined up to $300.

Not worth it sia.

2. Don’t Anyhowly Extinguish Or Throw Flammable Items Like Cigarette Butts

Did you read that? Yeah, I’m talking to you. Don’t be a fire hazard and accidentally set the whole city on fire. It’s irresponsible.

The government is taking a harder stance against those who anyhowly throw flammable items and these include cigarette butts.

You can be considered a fire hazard if a fire occurs 60 minutes or a short distance from where you’ve discarded, placed, or left behind something that could potentially start a fire.

This law is categorized under the Criminal Law Reform Act (CLRA) which was passed on 6 May 2019.

For this offence, you could risk being jailed for up to 7 years, fined or both.

3. E-Scooter Footpath Ban

How could we not include this in the list? Goody Feed’s favourite topic in 2019 was definitely Personal Mobility Devices (PMDs).

Google ‘Goody Feed PMD’ and the search result is endless. Well here’s another piece of news since we like to write about it so much.

The grace period for the ban of PMDs on footpaths is over, which means that those who insist on still riding their PMDs on the footpath will not be spared by Land Transport Authority officers.

Drains and grass patches are a no go too.

Those who commit the offence of riding on footpaths can be slapped with a $2,000 fine and/or three months in jail.

Been living under a rock in Bikini Bottom and need further explanation on the PMD ban? Watch our video in simple Singlish:

4. Harsher Punishments For Crimes Against Minors & Vulnerable Victims

According to MSNews, there will be a whole list of new laws that will provide minors and vulnerable victims with even more protection.

This includes harsher punishments for crimes such as:

Non-consensual exposure of genitals in a physical or virtual space (like sending nudes) is now a punishable crime
Making, distributing (or threatening to distribute), owning and accessing voyeuristic recordings or intimate photos
Offences against minors like sexual grooming and child abuse
Double punishments for those who take advantage of vulnerable victims such as minors, domestic workers or family members