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  1. #1

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    Singapore Law - Myths & Facts

    Find Singapore a "Fine" City?



    Singapore's reputation as the cleanest, safest city In the world usually goes hand-in-hand with the fact that it is also the "finest" city out there. Yes, it is a beautiful place to be, but in this case, we are talking about the now-legendary list of penalties that both residents and visitors alike can incur for not obeying the laws—however obscure some of them may be. We are here to confirm the dos and don'ts, as well as dispel some of the more outrageous myths out there:

    Jail for jaywalking? — FALSE! Though not far from the truth jaywalking and a number of other "petty" crimes that are not illegal in other countries (spitting, littering, smoking in public places, eating in the MRT) can incur penalties from S$500-S$1,000 for first-time offenders. Some of these may seem harsh, but hey, they all contribute to making Singapore the fine city that it is.

    Death for drugs? —TRUE Only to a certain extent though—the laws differ depending on the quantity and type of drug. Some violations will result in caning and a jail sentence, while possession of the harder stuff (especially with the intention of dealing) can indeed lead to a hanging. So remember—dont do drugs, they can be seriously bad for your health.

    Fined for farting? — FALSE! One of the funnier ones we nave heard. No, you won't get penalised for letting one go, but you will find that the police will quickly lose their sense of toilet humour if you are caught forgetting to flush, or even urinating in a lift—both of which can incur fines. Its fairly simple really; be considerate and hygienic, and if you really need to pass some gas—keep it secret, keep it silent, keep it safe.

    Grabbed for gum? — FALSE! Probably the most famous law out here, made the more so by the way it has been exaggerated or perhaps even distorted over time. The reality of it is that the importation and distribution of chewing gum is indeed illegal, but the act of chewing itself is not. Gum for therapeutic or medicinal use is allowed. So if you're a smoker in need of his gum, take heart!

    From Singapore Tourism Board.



    Last edited by dirtydog; 23-01-2011 at 07:37 PM.

  2. #2
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    There are plain clothes cops who will catch you for throwing a cigarette butt on the floor though. My friend recently got an on the spot fine of $200, and saying that there was no dustbin nearby didn't get him off this one.

    Another one is smoking duty free cigs. Singapore duty paid fags have a marking on them so you can't even get away with using a cigarette box for your illegal cigarettes. There are also plain clothes cops enforcing this.

  3. #3

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    Added a nice couple of joyful videos to make the post better

  4. #4
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    and no durians on the MRT - appears to be as a public service rather than a fine offence?
    None of the signs we saw had an amount mentioned (March 2010)


  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by slimboyfat View Post
    Another one is smoking duty free cigs. Singapore duty paid fags have a marking on them so you can't even get away with using a cigarette box for your illegal cigarettes. There are also plain clothes cops enforcing this.
    How does that work?

    When duty is paid they take every single cig out out of every single box and mark it??

  6. #6
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    I guess the manufacturers have to put the marking on to enable them to sell in Singapore

  7. #7
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    Or they get Thai immigrants to do it for 3c p/h.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Chairman Mao View Post
    Or they get Thai immigrants to do it for 3c p/h.
    Possibly. but I would use Bangladeshis. They are cheaper, more reliable and less likely to kill each other after a few beers.

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    Thailand Expat Fondles's Avatar
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    Yeah fuckers and their cigarettes, ive done dozens of trips to Sing in the past 2 years and always took my smokes from here, last time I went they scanned my suitcase and pinched me for the carton I had in there.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Fondles View Post
    Yeah fuckers and their cigarettes, ive done dozens of trips to Sing in the past 2 years and always took my smokes from here, last time I went they scanned my suitcase and pinched me for the carton I had in there.
    $200 fine for a pack of 20 isnt it?

  11. #11
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    so if you are a tourist, you can't bring your own cigarettes ?

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Butterfly View Post
    so if you are a tourist, you can't bring your own cigarettes ?
    officially no, but they will let you off with an open packet. So you can bring in 19 cigs without worry!

  13. #13
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    Singapore Laws and Myths


    Grabbed for gum? — FALSE! Probably the most famous law out here, made the more so by the way it has been exaggerated or perhaps even distorted over time. The reality of it is that the importation and distribution of chewing gum is indeed illegal, but the act of chewing itself is not. Gum for therapeutic or medicinal use is allowed. So if you're a smoker in need of his gum, take heart!

    ------------------

    True, and I haven't been to Singapore for some years now.
    But I still remember the No Gum signs they used to have on the subway. Officially the reason you weren't supposed to chew gum on the subway was that if you discarded it the gum would get into the tracks for the doors to the train, the doors wouldn't close properly and the train was programed not to move unless the doors were closed properly for safety reasons.
    And I also remember the "No Durians Allowed In This Hotel" signs in certain hotels in Singapore...but that was the hotel policy, not a government one.
    I once took my Thai girlfriend to Singapore for a visit. When we got a single room I remember being asked by the girl at the reservation desk in the hotel, "Sir, are you really married to this woman?". I lied right to her face and said yes. She didn't challenge it and registered us as Mr. and Mrs. (my name).
    On another trip to Singapore part of my luggage was left behind (by the airline) in Bangkok. A few hours later it was delivered to the hotel which I chose by the airline. They brought it to my room. Apparently they found me by landing card where I listed the hotel I would stay in. That was an official Singapore government form.
    That's Singapore
    Last edited by BigBaBoo; 20-05-2011 at 11:32 AM.

  14. #14
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
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    For many, good this is not the case in Thailand.

    "Corporal punishment (including the rattan cane) may be imposed for crimes including drug offences, rape, rioting, extortion, visa offences and vandalism."

    Travel Advice for Singapore - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

  15. #15

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    I think it would be pretty good for Thailand, the Thai immigration could do a weekly round up of the old gits who are late on their 90 day reporting, transport them to Lumpini stadium, obviously charge them for this, then televise the rattan cane canning, say 10 whacks perday late, it would be the number 1 tv show in Thailand

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    Thailand Expat Fondles's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by slimboyfat View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Fondles View Post
    Yeah fuckers and their cigarettes, ive done dozens of trips to Sing in the past 2 years and always took my smokes from here, last time I went they scanned my suitcase and pinched me for the carton I had in there.
    $200 fine for a pack of 20 isnt it?
    Nah, they gave me the option of paying the taxes, was about $70.00 from memory or for $4.00 I could leave them there and collect on my way back out.

  17. #17
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    This information about Singapore only strengthens my view that the world would be a much better place without this bright, shining shithole of a country.

  18. #18
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    On the plus side, Marmite is not banned, is available in all supermarkets and provision shops, and is very popular with the locals.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jools View Post
    This information about Singapore only strengthens my view that the world would be a much better place without this bright, shining shithole of a country.
    horses for courses. or buffalo in your case

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by genghis61 View Post
    and no durians on the MRT - appears to be as a public service rather than a fine offence?
    None of the signs we saw had an amount mentioned (March 2010)

    Those signs are still up on the MRT I saw last time.

    But these signs have been taken down as of October 2007


  21. #21
    or TizYou?
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    Quote Originally Posted by dirtydog View Post
    Jail for jaywalking? — FALSE! Though not far from the truth jaywalking and a number of other "petty" crimes that are not illegal in other countries (spitting, littering, smoking in public places, eating in the MRT) can incur penalties from S$500-S$1,000 for first-time offenders. Some of these may seem harsh, but hey, they all contribute to making Singapore the fine city that it is.
    I've been fined for crossing the highway instead of using the overhead walkway.
    It was only SGD20 for a first of fence though.

  22. #22
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    ^ Singapore is a regrettable success story in that they proved even highly educated and affluent people can be forced to helplessly live in a police state. I much prefer freedom to safety or excessive order. They really need political change.

  23. #23
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    I have as much freedom here as I need or want.

    What additional freedom would you want?
    Something like the freedom to get shot by a pissed up Thai because he thought that you disrespected him?
    Stabbed to death for a 7,000 baht gold chain?
    Or is it the freedom to be extorted by someone in uniform because they know that because you are white that you must be rich for the pickings?
    Or is it the freedom to have your family wiped out because a fucked up country cant manage to keep any of the pissed drivers off the road?
    Last edited by TizMe; 15-08-2013 at 09:02 AM.

  24. #24
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    TizMe agree 100% was based there for 20 years never had any problems for a police state as some people say always found them very polite people even when they a giving you a ticket for speeding on the expressway's

  25. #25
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    Just saw this thread and thought it was interesting said above from BigBaBoo that he was asked if his TGF and him were indeed married. Back in June of this year I had my TGF come down to Singapore to visit me while I was on business and the hotel I stay at, Peninsula Excelsior didn't even bat an eye on it. I didn't think Singaporeans really cared, as compared to Vietnam. But I also heard that Vietnam was if you were there with a Vietnamise girl and not from a different nationality.

    Now my poor TGF got a bit of a grilling questions from immigration because this was her first time here on her passport and she is Thai. I asked a bit around and heard that the trend is for Thai girls to save up, come down for a weekend "work jaunt" and go back up north.

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