Singapore is a fine city
(pun intended)
Singapore is #1 for the world’s best investment potential, most competitive city and has the fastest average peak Internet speed. Yet, it is also known as the only country in the world where chewing gum is banned (alongside many other laws some may find odd to say the least).
Here is a brief guide to some of Singapore’s weird strange unique laws:
1. Annoying others with a musical instrument or singing in public
Penalty: Up to 3 months in prison or $1,000 fine
According to Singapore Statutes Online, singing, reciting or uttering any obscene song (especially if they contain swear words) in public is illegal. So better save your vocal cords for your shower!
2. Connecting to someone else’s WIFI
Penalty: Up to 3 years in prison and/or $10,000 fine
Bloggers, Digital Nomads and Millennials beware: Using another person’s wifi is defined as hacking in Singapore! Surely you can still connect to the wifi at your local coffee shop, just be careful when it comes to unauthorised connections!
3. Feeding pigeons
Penalty: $500
If Disney Classic Mary Poppins was set in Singapore instead of England, iconic musical scenes like “Feed the birds“ would have looked slightly different. While feeding pigeons might not sound like a criminal offence, in Singapore it is and will definitely cost you.
4. Smoking in public
Penalty: $150 – 1,000 fine
Smoking is banned in public places and vehicles. This law was put in place to ensure a clean and healthy environment for the public . Really the only safe space to smoke is in your own house or in designated smoking rooms.
5. Walking around your house naked
Penalty: Up to 3 months in prison or $2,000 fine
While smoking and singing at home is fine, being naked is not. Pornography is illegal – and walking around naked in your house is considered a form of pornography in Singapore because it is a disturbance to your neighbours.
So better close the curtains before getting ready for shower.
6. Not flushing the toilet
Penalty: $150-500 fine
A big part of Singapore’s cleanliness comes from its strict rules, for instance, by most certainly being the only place in the world that has specific legislation against not flushing toilets.
Officials actually conduct random checks in public toilets to make sure people flush after they go. If caught leaving an ‘unflushed’ toilet, you face a fine.
7. Littering
Penalty: From $300 fine to $5,000 and community service
If you are a first time offender who threw small items on the streets, you will be fined $300. However, those convicted of littering three times will not only pay a hefty fine, but also have to clean the streets with a bib on saying “I am a litterer.”
This is done to publicly shame the offenders so that they won’t litter again.
8. Selling Chewing Gum
Penalty: $100,000 – 2 years in jail
This will always remain one of the most unbelievable laws to most people.
The sale of chewing gum is illegal, bringing it into the country is an offence and spitting it is even worse. There has, however, been a softening of this tough law: You are now allowed to chew nicotine or medicinal gum as long as it is sold by a pharmacist or dentist.
9. Making noise and drinking alcohol from 10:30pm to 7am
Penalty: Up to $2000 fine
Singapore is all fun and games – until 10:30pm. If you are planning a group gathering, loud dinner or crazy party that involves booze and might last well after 10:30pm, you actually have to get a permit from the government! Still, you can drink inside a liquor-licensed bar or drink in the comfort of your own room.
So is it safe to travel to Singapore you might wonder:
Well, if you are a pigeon-feeding chewing-gum-selling nudist with a tendency
towards wifi kleptomania and frantic littering, you might want to steer clear of Singapore.
However, in the more likely case that these traits DO NOT describe you,
just remember some do’s and don’ts and you will be just fine!
Please note: Meiji Internships cannot issue any guarantee concerning the accuracy of the information
(such as penalties) mentioned.
