Land Transport Authority LTA issued a press release on Monday (July 25) and stated that it had stepped up measures against evasion of payment of Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) fees, fixed Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) fees and toll charges over the last few months.
LTA estimated that during March to May this year, it had lost it revenue for about eight per cent of total tolls and fees revenue, or about S$12 million. It stated that it collected about S$150 million per year through VEP and ERP fees, and also the toll charges.
To solve the problem, LTA had taken few steps. One of which was to deploy officers for enforcement duties at both Tuas and Woodlands. It increased the number of hiring officers by almost 20 per cent to almost 100. It also said that the number will be increased progressively when necessary.
The other will be the introduction of the new composition sum of fine which will be effective on August 1, 2016. Motorists who evade the tools and fees for the first time will have to pay for S$50, while repeat offenders will have to pay S$100. Today, offenders only have to pay S$10 for administrative fee.
It also said that motorists who do not pay the composition sum and who are then charged for tolls and fees evasion are liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding S$1,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months for the first offence.
Another two options are currently being studied.
First, the possibility of amending the Road Traffic Act to prohibit the entry and exit of foreign vehicles with unpaid tolls, fees, taxes, penalties or composition sums.
Secondly, strengthening controls over the collection of fees and tolls for vehicles entering/departing Singapore. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority for Singapore (ICA) also studied about the possibility to have the drop-arm barriers of ICA to be lifted only when the motorists had paid for the tolls and fees.
LTA stated that more details will be announced in due course.
