TRAFFIC FINES OF DRIVERS OF FOREIGN VEHICLES

Mr Goh Choon Kang asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) how many drivers of foreign vehicles did not pay up their traffic fines for offences committed in Singapore from 1993 to 1997; (b) how many warrants of arrest have been issued against these drivers; and (c) what is the total amount of fines outstanding.

Mr Wong Kan Seng: Traffic fines are currently imposed on drivers of foreign vehicles for various offences: by the Traffic Police for non-compliance with our traffic laws such as speeding and parking along public roads; by HDB and URA for parking offences within HDB and URA carparks; and by LTA for flouting traffic laws relating to vehicle usage and regulation, such as Area Licensing Scheme and Electronic Road Pricing Scheme, and emission of excessive exhaust fumes.

More than 260,000 summonses issued by Traffic Police, HDB, URA and LTA between 1995 and 1997 against foreign registered vehicles are still outstanding today: 53,927 by Traffic Police, 167,718 by HDB, 29,635 by URA and 11,467 by LTA. We do not have these statistics prior to 1995.

Between 1995 and 1997, a total of 14,318 warrants of arrest were issued against foreign motorists: 4,186 for Traffic Police-related offences, 8,629 for HDB/URA parking offences and 1,503 for LTA-related offences.

The majority of the foreign drivers who did not pay up their fines or were issued warrants of arrest were Malaysians.

As at 31st December 1997, the total amount of traffic fines which is outstanding from drivers of foreign vehicles is $8.1 million. Of this, $3.9 million was for Traffic Police-related traffic offences. $3.5 million was for HDB/URA parking offences, and $0.70 million for LTA-related traffic offences.