The rules are clear: no carpooling during Circuit Breaker period.
It’s emphasized again and again, and we’ve even written two articles about this: here and here.
But for some reason, the Circuit Breaker must’ve affected some people’s wiring, because there are still people carpooling.
And two of them learned it the hard way.
2 Drivers Booked & Their Cars Seized After They Provided Carpooling Services
Carpooling during the Covid-19 outbreak is now an offence under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations.
While people were initially confused as to whether carpool services are essential, the Ministry of Trade and Industry confirmed in a Facebook post on 6 April that it is not.
The Minister for Transport also issued an order recently revoking Road Traffic (Car Pools) (Exemption) Order 2015, which allows drivers to be compensated for costs such as fuel for offering carpool trips.
If you’re caught offering carpooling riders during the circuit breaker, you could face a fine of up to S$10,000, a maximum of six months jail, or both.
The major carpooling apps, GrabHitch and Rydepool, have already suspended the services in their app.
But the problem lies in Telegram groups.
While the admins in large Telegram groups that match drivers with passengers have repeatedly warned about the new regulations, a check on a few of these groups shows that some people just DGAF.
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In the Telegram group “COVID-19 Lockdown SG Hitch Singapore”, which was initially called “SG Hitch”, there have been people looking for drivers almost every few minutes, with a few drivers offering rides, too.
This despite the fact that the name of the group has specifically been changed, and people (or the admin) posting warnings regularly (though they’ve all been drowned by the number of requests).
Today, the authorities have flexed their muscles.
LTA posted this on their Facebook Page:
Yes, they conducted enforcement operations to catch carpooling drivers.
Two drivers were booked and their vehicles have been seized while investigations are ongoing.
LTA said (officially lah, not on their emoji-filled Facebook post), “While commercial operators have suspended their carpooling services, LTA is aware that some drivers, like the two who have been booked, continue to offer such services privately through messaging platforms.”
Yes, pretty sure they’re talking about Telegram.
“Such irresponsible behaviour endangers the health of drivers, passengers and their families, and undermines Singapore’s ongoing efforts to suppress the spread of COVID-19.”
Mr Chandrasekar Palanisamy, group director of traffic and road operations at LTA, said, “We urge both drivers and commuters to be socially responsible and comply with the COVID-19 circuit breaker measures, which have been put in place to safeguard public health and to minimise community transmission.
“LTA views the provision of carpooling services at this time as a serious offence. We will continue to actively enforce against those who provide such services illegally.”
You can sabo your friends who’re carpooling while saving the world by clicking here.
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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