Why this Singapore smoker was fined $15,000
In Singapore, they take their litter seriously.
One man learned just how seriously after 鈥� a record amount 鈥� for throwing cigarette butts out of his apartment window, the country鈥檚 National Environment Agency told Reuters.
The smoker, who was caught on a surveillance camera, was reportedly slapped with a fine of 600 Singapore dollars for each of the 33 times he committed the offense. His 34th cigarette butt got him five hours of community service, meaning he will have to clean a public area while wearing a bright vest labeled, 鈥淐orrective Work Order,鈥� the agency said.
Singapore has long been known for its strict laws governing cleanliness, order, and social behavior. While some see it as emblematic of an authoritarian approach, others say it's integral to an ethos of efficiency and discipline that has made Singapore聽鈥� a nation a fraction of the size of the state of Delaware 鈥� a legitimate player in the world stage. Its GDP was estimated at more than $300 billion last year, and the nation was ranked second in the聽.
鈥淥ut of a malarial swamp, the tiny island at the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula gained independence from Britain in 1963 and, in one generation, transformed itself into a legendarily efficient place,鈥� journalist Marc Jacobson聽聽in 2010.
One of the country's colonial and signature forms of punishment is caning. This form of corporal punishment 聽is not only legal but mandatory for vandalism offenses such as displaying banners, pamphlets, or flags on public property, and writing on public property. Penalties, , can include fines of up to $2,000, up to 8 strokes of the cane, and prison, .
Contrary to popular belief, the act of chewing gum is allowed in Singapore. But the sale, import, and manufacture of gum has been , after chewing gum stuck between commuter train doors caused delays in public transport. Smuggling gum into the country can rack up fines of up to 10,000 Singapore dollars or about $8,000, along with one year of jail time.
Police also have the authority to compel both residents and non-residents to random drug tests, which means drugs ingested even before entering the country could land a person in prison. The death penalty is mandatory for some narcotics offenses.
Spitting and jaywalking are also illegal and could lead to arrest, while each carry fines in the hundreds of dollars.
And punishment isn鈥檛 the only route the Singaporean government has taken to get to where it is today.
An initiative called 鈥�,鈥� launched in 2013, has traffic cops rewarding drivers with gas vouchers and plush toys for their good driving habits.
鈥淓arlier, there were two pedestrians crossing and then suddenly someone riding a bicycle as well, and I let them go,鈥� taxi driver Toh Teck Hui told Channel News Asia. 鈥淭hen the traffic policeman stopped me. He said I had a good spirit."
