I believe we can all agree that when you really need to take a dump and you can’t find a toilet, it can be classified as an emergency.
But is it enough of an emergency to break several traffic rules and risk people’s lives?
Well, this man apparently thought it is.
Here’s what happened.
Man Jailed After Driving at 180 KM/H & Driving Against Traffic to Look for a Toilet
On 1 Mar 2019 at around 3am, 57-year-old Hoo Hee Tuan was driving along the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) when he experienced a serious stomachache.
Taking the nearest exit off the expressway towards Jurong Canal Drive, he drove to his brother’s coffeeshop in Jurong to use the toilet.
Which wouldn’t be a problem, except he drove at 180 km per hour.
When a traffic police officer noticed the speeding car, he gave chase in his car with blinkers on.
Hoo did not stop, however, and made several turns, even running red lights twice.
He was also spotted driving against traffic twice during the chase.
Eventually, he stopped when trying to enter an HDB car park as a taxi was in the way.
Did Not Know It Was A Police Car
Hoo, who suffers from irritable bowel syndrome, soiled his pants when stopped by the police.
Officers had to line the back of the police car with plastic before he could be brought in.
Hoo’s lawyer, Lim Soo Peng, said that he did not know it was a police car.
He had thought it was an ambulance based on the blinkers, and that the officer giving chase had not turned the siren on.
It was added that Hoo was simply “looking for a toilet” and wasn’t racing, drunk or trying to get away from the police.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Deborah Lee, however, argued that Hoo’s bowel condition doesn’t justify putting other road users in danger.
It was also added that Hoo, who knew about his condition for about a year, should know how to deal with his condition by now.
He could’ve stopped along the road once he had exited from the highway, she pointed out.
And to add on, since he has exited from Jurong Canel Drive, he just needed to make a right turn to get to a coffeeshop, and last we know, that coffeeshop does have a toilet (which coffeeshop doesn’t?), and it’s relatively easy to find a parking lot there.
Sentencing
On 6 Jan 2021, Hoo was sentenced to seven weeks in jail and disqualified from driving for four years.
He pleaded guilty to one charge of rash driving and one charge of failing to stop for a police officer.
For the act of dangerous driving, he could’ve been jailed for up to one year, fined up to S$5,000, or both.
For failing to stop for a police officer, he could’ve been jailed for up to three months, fined up to S$1,000, or both.
Hoo is slated to start his sentence on 27 Jan 2021.
Feature Image: Google Map
Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
