Violation & Fines

Drink Driving

Legislation

The Traffic Police highlighted that many motorists are unclear about the drink driving law in Singapore. Under the Road Traffic Act, a person can be convicted of drink driving in two instances.

If the driver is found with more than the legal limit of 35 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millitres of breath, or more than 80 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millitres of blood, he/she is deemed to have broken the law and it does not matter whether the driver has perfect control of the vehicle, when caught.

Even when the alcohol level is under the legal limit, the driver can still be convicted if it is shown that he/she did not have proper control of the vehicle as a result of alcoholic intoxication.

Examples

A driver who is seen driving in a zig-zag manner may have a breath sample registering an alcohol level within the legal limit. But he will still be liable for conviction.

A driver who causes an accident by ramming into a stationary vehicle, for instance, can be liable for a drink-driving conviction, even though his breath-alcohol level falls within the legal limit.

Drink Driving Penalties

First Time – Drink driver will be fined between $1000/- and $5000/- or six months imprisonment.
Second Time – Drink driver will be fined between $3000/- and $10,000/- fine and imprisonment for a term of up to one year.
Repeated Time – Drink Driver will face enhanced punishment up to 3 times the penalty, a maximum of $30,000/- fine and three years’ imprisonment.
Offenders causing death or serious injuries can also be caned up to 6 strokes.
All those convicted will be disqualified from driving for at least 1 year, even if they have not caused any traffic accidents.

Speeding Offences:

Exceeding 01 – 20km/h = $130 Fine + 4 Demerit Points.
Exceeding 21 – 30km/h = $150 Fine + 6 Demerit Points.
Exceeding 31 – 40km/h = $180 Fine + 8 Demerit Points.
Exceeding 41 – 50km/h = more than $200 Fine + 12 Demerit Points + Court
Exceeding 51 – 60km/h = more than $200 Fine + 18 Demerit Points + Court
Exceeding More Than 61km/h = more than $200 Fine + 24 Demerit Points + Court.

Driving Offences:

Failing to Put On Seat Belt = $120 Fine + 3 Demerit points
Crossing Double White Lines = $130 Fine + 4 Demerit Points
Careless Driving = $150 Fine + 6 Demerit Points
Inconsiderate Driving = $170 Fine + 9 Demerit Points + Court
Dangerous Driving = more than $200 Fine + 24 Demerit Points + Court + Vehicle Compounded
Illegal Racing = more than $200 Fine + Vehicle Confiscate + Court

MOBILE PHONES:

Phone or Text while Driving = $200 Fine + 12 Demerit Points + Phone Confiscated.You cannot hold your phone in your hand when you drive, even with loud speaker or ear piece.

Other Offences:

Fail to signal when changing lanes = $70 Fine
Making an illegal U-Turn when no U-Turn sign = $70 Fine
Driving after 7pm without headlights or taillights = $30 Fine
No number plate = $70 Fine
Obstructed or obscured number plate = $70 Fine
Number plate of unapproved type = $70 Fine.

DEMERIT POINT SYSTEM:

Let’s say you have 0 points on 1st January 2009, and you committed the offence of ‘Failing to Put On Seat Belt, you will have 3 demerit points and this will last for one Year. If during this one year you have no demerit point offences at all, your 3 demerit points will be gone on 1/1/2010.But, if during this one year, from 1/1/2009 to 1/1/2010, you commit another offence with demerit points, your very first offence will be extended for another year until 1/1/2011.