Travelers using Singapore’s public buses will face new penalties for disruptive behavior beginning September 23.
Under regulations announced by the Land Transport Authority, passengers who put their feet on seats, eat or drink aboard buses, litter, or play audio loudly can be fined as much as S$500, or approximately $392. The measures extend to buses and bus interchanges rules similar to those already used on Singapore’s rail network.
More serious violations carry substantially larger penalties. Soiling a bus, interchange, or terminal, or creating a danger for other commuters, can result in fines of up to S$5,000, or roughly $3,900. Enforcement guidance includes conduct such as urinating, spitting, vomiting, spilling bodily fluids, or smearing surfaces with substances including food, grease, or mud.
The Land Transport Authority says enforcement will take individual circumstances into account, including cases involving passengers with physical or mental health conditions. The rules are the latest example of Singapore’s extensive regulation of behavior in public spaces, which has long included penalties for littering and smoking in prohibited areas.