$200 FINE FOR THOSE WHO SMOKE AT S’PORE PARKS, WITH EFFECT FROM 1 OCT ONWARDS

A new law went into effect back in July, banning smoking at all public parks, gardens and the 10 beaches in Singapore.

Smokers were given an adjustment period of 3 months by the National Environment Agency, where offenders who breach the new law would receive a verbal warning instead of a fine.

Howveer, the adjustment period comes to an end on 1 October 2022, and those who are found guilty of smoking at the prohibited areas will be fined $200.

NEA’s press release

JOINT ADVISORY BETWEEN NEA, NPARKS, PUB AND SDC 

Singapore, 29 September 2022 – With effect from 1 October 2022, enforcement will be taken against those smoking at additional public parks and gardens [1], Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters sites, and 10 recreational beaches (refer to Annex A for list of beaches). The three-month advisory period, where persons caught smoking in these newly prohibited places were issued verbal advisories, will end on 30 September 2022. More than 1,200 verbal advisories were issued from 1 July 2022 to 25 September 2022.[2] The smokers were receptive when advised not to smoke in these prohibited places.

2          Officers from the National Environment Agency (NEA), the National Parks Board (NParks), National Water Agency PUB, and Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) have been authorised to take enforcement action for smoking offences in these newly prohibited places.[3] Those caught smoking may face a composition fine of $200.

3          To allow smokers to adjust to smoke-free parks, Designated Smoking Areas (DSAs) are provided in some larger regional parks and within the vicinity of the three beaches in Sentosa (refer to Annex B for the list of places where DSAs are available). ‘No Smoking by law’ signages, posters and banners have also been installed at the new smoke-free locations as additional visual reminders.

4          Smoking is already prohibited in some green spaces such as neighbourhood parks in private and public housing estates, reservoirs, and nature reserves. Members of the public can refer to the agencies’ websites for more information on the list of smoking prohibited places:

NEA
·       https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/smoking-prohibition/smoking-prohibition-extension/smoking-prohibition-in-reservoirs-and-parks

NParks
·       https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/dos-and-donts/smoking-prohibition

PUB
·       https://www.pub.gov.sg/abcwaters/explore

SDC
·       https://www.sentosa.com.sg/smoking-prohibition-at-sentosa-beaches

5        In the first half of 2022, about 7,400 tickets were issued for smoking in prohibited areas. Smoking is currently prohibited in more than 49,000 premises, both indoor and outdoor. NEA encourages smokers to be socially responsible when smoking in public places, and not to light up in smoking prohibited places. Friendly and timely reminders from family, friends and other members of the community can help to reinforce the right social behaviour and norms.

[1] Applies only to all parks and gardens managed by NParks.

[2] Figures provisional as of 25 September 2022

[3] Enforcement officers under PUB and NParks will be authorised and empowered under the Smoking (Prohibition in Certain Places) Act 1992 to take enforcement for smoking offences. Under the Parks and Trees Act, enforcement officers from NParks will be able to take enforcement for smoking offences in public parks and gardens under NParks’ purview. Under the Sentosa Development Corporation Regulations, enforcement officers from Sentosa Development Corporation will be able to take enforcement for smoking offences in Sentosa beaches.

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ANNEX A

10 Recreational Beaches

1)    Changi Beach
2)    East Coast Beach
3)    West Coast Beach
4)    Sembawang Beach
5)    Pasir Ris Beach
6)    Coney Island Beach
7)    Punggol Beach
8)    Siloso Beach^
9)    Palawan Beach^
10) Tanjong Beach^

^Enforcement for smoking at these beaches come under the Sentosa Development Corporation Regulations.

ANNEX B

Parks and Beaches with Designated Smoking Areas (DSA)

Table 1: Beaches with DSAs

Table 2: Parks with DSAs