Fines are often used in Singapore as a deterrent to enforce rules and laws. Anyone, including legal entities, can be fined as a fine for breaking a law or rule.
Some examples of fines in Singapore that have contributed to our reputation as a “fine city” are the fine for bringing fruit (durian) on public transport, smoking from certain areas, mosquito breeding on your property, and being naked Home.
Fines can only be imposed by ministries, statutory bodies and courts (state bodies). With all of these fines imposed by the various authorities, some of us may wonder who and where the money raised is going to.
Who collects the fines in Singapore?
The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is not the only one imposing fines in Singapore. Depending on the jurisdiction, the competent authorities will impose and collect the appropriate fines. Similar offenses can fall under different authorities.
For example, parking fees may be imposed by the SPF, Housing Development Board (HDB), Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), and National Parks Board (NPark) depending on the area in which the vehicle is parked.
Aside from parking fees, here are some of the common fines Singaporeans may face and the relevant authorities responsible for such penalties.
| Competent Authorities | Fines | Payment modes |
| MUMMY |
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Depending on the amount and the criminal offenses charged, here are the possible channels for paying fines:
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| FROM |
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| NEA |
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| SPF |
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| Courts (Supreme Courts and State Courts) |
In the event that a fine is imposed on you and you have not paid the relevant authorities on time, you may receive a reminder with an additional fine for late payment or, in the worst case, be charged with an arrest warrant and charged in court, depending on the Gravity of the offense.
What happens to the fines you pay?
Once the fines are collected, the fines will be lifted and passed on to the consolidated fund. As can be seen from the NEA law, article 46, fines are collected and paid to the consolidated fund.
The Consolidated Fund, which is quoted from the Singapore Parliament, is part of the government’s revenue and therefore fines.
Based on the Singapore Constitution, Article 145, the consolidated funds (with the fines) are turned over to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) for budget use.
For example, if we search the revenue breakdown for the Singapore fiscal year 2009 budget, we can see that fines among fines and rejections are part of the sub-component of government operating income.
The amount of fines and forfeiture has been estimated at $ 326 million and the eventual contribution to Singapore’s government revenue is less than 0.3 percent.
This article was first published in Dollars and Sense.
