Fines For Road Traffic Offences Including Jaywalking To Increase By Apr 2019


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For a long time, we, pedestrians and drivers alike, have taken road traffic offences for granted.

Illegal U-turns. Drift city anyone?

Not wearing a seatbelt while driving. I’m too cool for that shit.

Jaywalking. Hah nobody’s gonna see me.

Of course, there are people who respect the rules and cross only when the green man’s flashing from across the road. But let’s face it; are you one of them?

Probably, but that’s beside the point.

What I’m trying to point out, instead, is that road traffic offences are pretty prevalent in Singapore.

Image: Radio Drenica

Although judging from The Ministry of Home Affairs’ latest move…

It might soon be a thing of the past.

What’s gonna happen??

Starting 1 April, The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will be raising fines for road traffic offences. The move’s intended to improve deterrence against irresponsible driving.

In a press release on Thursday (21 Feb), MHA stated that increasing composition sums, or fines, would make sure that they remain effectual as a deterrent and halt the current uptrend in road traffic offences.

“It is important to nip unsafe driving in the bud, before serious accidents happen and people are killed or hurt,” said MHA.

“For road traffic offences that do not involve egregious driving behaviour and do not result in harm caused to others, the offence may be compounded, in lieu of prosecution,” the ministry added.

Incidentally, the last time fines for motorist road traffic offences were reviewed, it was the holy year of 2000. About time, some would say.

Though I reckon others would ask why they didn’t wait till the next turn of 3000 instead. Like me jk.

Any tips on the penalties?

According to Channel News Asia, the fines are as follows:


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Offences with zero demerit points (e.g. illegal U-turns):

Drivers of light vehicles could be fined S$100, up from the current S$70. Drivers of heavy vehicles performing the same offences could face a fine of S$150, up from S$100.

Offences with three demerit points (e.g. failure to wear a seatbelt while driving) and four demerit points (crossing double white lines):

Drivers of light vehicles could be fined S$150, while drivers of heavy vehicles could be fined S$200.

Offences with six demerit points (e.g.: driving on the shoulder of an expressway):


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Punishable by a fine of either S$200 or S$250.

Offences with eight or nine demerit points (e.g.: driving without due care or reasonable consideration for other road users):

Punishable by a fine of either S$300 or S$400.

Offences with twelve demerit points (e.g. not stopping at a red light):

Punishable by a fine of S$400 (up from S$200) for drivers of light vehicles, and S$500 (up from S$230) for drivers of heavy vehicles.

For further reference on motorist-related penalties, please refer to the diagram below.


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Pedestrians and cyclists are not omitted

For the first time in more than 20 years, fines for pedestrian and cyclist offences will be raised.

Jaywalkers, for instance, may be fined S$50 (up from S$20), and pedestrian offences at an expressway (such as entering an expressway tunnel on foot – what were they thinking?!) may be punishable by an S$75 fine (up from S$30).

Quite a tumultuous increase, with all things considered. But I guess it does amount as a worthy deterrent (time to pay respect to the red man, like for real).


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So… time to turn over a new leaf?

If you’ve always fancied yourself as a rulebreaker, because rules are meant to be broken, just like traffic laws, you might want to reconsider your whole life.

Is the hefty fine really worth that little bit of convenience?

Image: Giphy

Well, it’s entirely up to you.

By the way, lest you think no one has been caught for jaywalking, think again. A colleague’s friend’s friend (yeah, I know what you’re thinking) was once fined for jaywalking.

So don’t pray pray.