Singapore imposes strict fines for disruptive behavior on public buses

(CNN) - Most bus passengers are aware of how annoying another passenger is when they listen to music loudly or have a phone conversation over the loudspeaker.

Now, bus passengers in Singapore could face fines of hundreds of dollars if they engage in such actions.

This step comes as part of a strict campaign against “disturbing” behavior on public buses within this Asian destination, with fines reaching 5,000 Singapore dollars (equivalent to about $3,900) for violators.

According to a statement issued by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), which oversees the public transport sector in Singapore, passengers who cause “nuisance” to others may be subject to a fine of up to 500 Singapore dollars ($390), and these violations include placing their feet on seats, playing the sound at a high volume, throwing garbage, or eating and drinking inside the bus.

Serious violations, such as endangering other passengers or “contaminating any part” of the bus or other transportation facilities, carry a maximum penalty of about $3,900.

The authority’s statement said: “Public transportation is a shared space, and every passenger has a role to play in ensuring a sophisticated and comfortable transportation environment.”

These new penalties are in line with rules already in place in Singapore's MRT network.

Unlike major American cities like New York, transportation systems in Asia are generally known for their cleanliness, order, and efficiency, and bans on eating, drinking, and playing music inside vehicles are common.

In Japan, for example, simply talking to other passengers is considered inappropriate behavior.

Efforts to create a calmer transportation environment are not limited to Singapore, known for its strict public hygiene laws, but extend to other destinations.

This issue has emerged in particular in the British city of London, where last year the authorities launched an awareness campaign on etiquette urging passengers to use headphones while riding the subway.

A poll conducted by Transport for London last year showed that about 70% of city transport users find playing music loudly or talking on the phone loudly without using headphones annoying.

Public transportation operators in cities such as Beijing in China, Krakow in Poland, and Toronto in Canada have also banned playing sound at high volume without using headphones, although the mechanisms for implementing this decision vary from one city to another.

While some misbehaving passengers may be content with receiving a verbal warning, others find themselves having to bear the consequences of their disruptive behaviour.

In February 2025, a man in France was fined $200 for making a loud phone call on a loudspeaker inside a train station after he refused to turn off the speaker.