SINGAPORE – Warning letters were issued on Wednesday to 14 motorists who had left their vehicle engines idling while stationary in a three-hour enforcement exercise by the National Environment Agency (NEA) in Ang Mo Kio.
Under Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) regulations, it is an offence to leave the engine of a motor vehicle running when it is stationary for reasons other than traffic conditions. Those breaching the law can be fined up to $5,000.
Here are 10 other offences you may not have known.
1. Annoying someone by behaving badly in public while drunk
According to section 510 of the Penal Code, whoever, in a state of intoxication, appears in any public place, or in any place which he cannot enter, and behaves “in such a manner as to cause annoyance to any person”, may be jailed up to six months, fined up to $1,000, or both.
That’s going to be many people on a Saturday night at Clarke Quay.
2. Annoying someone in a public place through an act, or by reciting or uttering a song with lyrics that are obscene
According to Section 294 of the Penal Code, this carries up to three months in jail, a fine, or both.
Now you know what to do if someone propositions you with a lewd song
3. Sale, distribution, rental of all things “obscene”, including paintings, books, figures
According to Section 292 of the Penal Code, the penalty is up to three months in jail, a fine, or both.
What is considered obscene?
According to the Singapore Statutes, the word “obscene”, is anything that tends to “deprave and corrupt persons” who are likely to see or read the materials.
You might want to think twice about selling that old sex toy on Carousell then.
4. Purposely obstructing a person, so as to prevent him from proceeding in any direction that he is allowed to walk in
According to Section 341 of the Penal Code, this carries a jail term of up to a month, a fine of up to $1,500, or both.
5. Using false weight or measure
According to Section 265 of the Penal Code, whoever fraudulently uses any false weight or false measure of length or capacity, or fraudulently uses any weight or any measure of length or capacity as a different weight or measure from what it is, may be sentenced to up to a year in jail, a fine, or both.
Hopefully, the vendors at the wet markets know this.
Offences under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act
6. Your dog injuring a person
Any owner of a dog which causes injury to any person may rack up a fine of up to $5,000.
A leash might be cheaper than $5,000.
7. Bathing or washing yourself in on a public road, in a public tank, reservoir, or any water body
This will fetch a maximum fine of $1,000
Taking a shower at a swimming pool toilet may cost less.
8. Flying a kite that obstructs traffic on a public road
Anyone who flies any kite, or plays at any game, or does any act which obstructs or interferes with the traffic in any public road, or the use of the wires of any telephone may have to pay a fine of up to $5,000.
West Coast Park and Marina Barrage are good alternatives if you really would like to fly a kite.
9. Annoying someone by making noise in any way, including by an instrument
Any person who makes any noise ” to cause or be likely to cause annoyance or inconvenience to the occupier of any premises in the vicinity” may be fined up to $1,000.
Does your neighbour’s bad karaoke singing at 3am count?
10. Taking alcohol into a public hospital
Anyone who takes or tries to take without “due permission” into any public hospital any intoxicating liquor, drug or preparation may be jailed up to two months, fined up to $1,000, or both.
It is probably not the cure, no matter how convinced you are.
Source: Singapore Statutes Online
Source: www.straitstimes.com
