Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Heavier fines for repeat offenders who park illegally

SINGAPORE — Motorists who continue to park illegally will face higher fines from Jan 1 if they repeat the offence within a year of getting their first summons, as the authorities move to tackle the persistent problem of illegal parking.

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

SINGAPORE — Motorists who continue to park illegally will face higher fines from Jan 1 if they repeat the offence within a year of getting their first summons, as the authorities move to tackle the persistent problem of illegal parking.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced yesterday that it was introducing a tiered fines regime, in its first adjustment to illegal parking fines in two decades.

Under the new regime, motorists who receive their second Notice of Traffic Offence (NTO) within 12 months will have to pay higher fines. For example, if a driver is caught parking a light vehicle along roads with No Waiting signs or unbroken double yellow lines, or at a taxi stop for the second time within a year, he will be fined S$110 — almost 60 per cent more than the S$70 payable by a first-time offender. A driver of a heavy vehicle who fails to comply, for example, with a No Parking sign or No Stopping sign for the second time within 12 months will be fined S$150 under the new regime, instead of the S$100 fine issued to first-time offenders.

In the past four years, the number of illegal parking summonses has fluctuated, with half of them handed out to repeat offenders.

In 2011, about 300,000 summonses were issued, while in 2012, the number shot up to 427,200. From January to September this year, 340,300 summonses were given out.

The LTA said the number of demerit points given out for more serious illegal parking offences will remain unchanged. Also, NTOs issued before Jan 1 will not be taken into account in determining the fines under the new regime.

To further deter illegal parking, the LTA said it will also install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at 40 more locations by the first quarter of next year.

Motorists who have been fined for parking illegally have cited — in their appeal letters to the LTA to have the fines waived — reasons such as the urgent need to use the toilet, waiting for only a short while or parking to take their elderly parents to clinics, said Members of Parliament (MPs) TODAY spoke to. Tanjong Pagar GRC MP Lily Neo said higher fines and the installation of CCTV cameras would serve as a deterrent to potential offenders. “If you see a CCTV (camera), you know for sure that you would get caught (for illegal parking) and (would) refrain from doing so.”

“We don’t have the luxury of space for adding more parking (lots), so educating our people on civic-mindedness is important. People need to know how they would inconvenience others, such as blocking others’ way when they park at places like drop-off points,” Dr Neo added.

Mr Seng Han Thong (Ang Mo Kio GRC) said: “As enforcement officers cannot be around for 24 hours, the CCTV camera is more effective in deterring illegal parking. Offenders know that the system captures not only the image, but also the timing and duration. With higher fines, potential offenders will realise that it does not pay and will park their vehicles at the authorised area.”

He suggested the camera zones be made more visible to remind motorists in a hurry that they are parking illegally and are being captured on camera. “The LTA may also consider giving some leeway to taxi drivers who stop to allow passengers to alight and board the taxi without causing any obstruction in the camera zone,” Mr Seng added.

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.