ILLEGAL POSTING OF NOTICES

ILLEGAL POSTING OF NOTICES

22.

Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many people have been arrested in 2009 for illegal posting and hanging of advertisements and notices on public property; (b) what are the penalties imposed on the offenders; and (c) whether the Ministry will consider more stringent measures.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Regulating the posting and hanging of advertisements and notices on public property is a responsibility undertaken by agencies coming under three Ministries – MND, MOT and MHA.

Under the Town Councils' Common Property and Open Spaces by-laws, Town Councils can take action against persons who post notices or advertisements on common property without prior approval from the Town Council. On conviction, the offence carries a maximum penalty of $5,000. Under the Building Control (Outdoor Advertising) Regulations, an outdoor sign or signboard cannot be displayed without a licence from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA). The offence attracts a maximum fine of $5,000.

The illegal display of notices at bus stops, MRT stations and on lamp posts is prohibited by the Street Works (Advertisements on Road Structures, Road Related Facilities and Public Streets) Regulations, and has been addressed by the Ministry of Transport's response to Dr Lim Wee Kiat's question on this issue.

If the facts of the case warrant it, a person who illegally posts a notice on public property may also be charged for vandalism under the Vandalism Act, mischief under the Penal Code or Intentional Harassment under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act. If convicted of vandalism, a person may be fined not exceeding $2,000 or imprisoned for a term not exceeding three years. A person convicted of mischief is liable for imprisonment for a term of not more than one year, or a fine, or both. For committing intentional harassment, a person may be fined a maximum of $5,000.

In 2009, the Police arrested eight persons for vandalism. BCA compounded around 670 offences for unlicensed display of outdoor advertisement signs and signboards. Town Councils issued six summonses for the illegal posting of notices. Generally, when asked to do so, offenders would remove illegally posted notices in housing estates.

In short, the response to the problem of illegal display of notices is calibrated in accordance to circumstances of the case, as reflecting the severity of the offence. For the vast majority of the cases, the offence committed is not serious and is rectified by the removal of the notice. At the same time, agencies are exploring innovative solutions to ameliorate the situation. For example, LTA has piloted the use of anti-stick paint to prevent advertisements and notices from being pasted onto lamp-posts. Some Town Councils have also written to real estate agencies to advise them against posting their notices in housing estates.

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While the various agencies would continue to deal with such notices and advertisements which fall under their purview, let me assure Er Lee that blatant acts of vandalism, mischief or intentional harassment will not be tolerated. Police will investigate and bring the perpetrator to task.

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