A young man was recently caught on video smoking an e-cigarette while he was travelling on a public bus in Singapore.
The video was shared on a Facebook page called SG Road Vigilante on 18 December (Wednesday).
In the video, we can see that the young man, who looks rather underage, adorning a Hello Kitty sweater while puffing twice on his vaping device.
While he was conducting the act, the bus can be seen travelling past the Yishun Park Hawker Centre in the background.
At the end of the video, the young chap was seen flashing a peace sign after ending his consumption of nicotine.
This is not the first time an individual was caught smoking on a bus. In 2018, a group of three teenagers filmed themselves smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes while seated at the back of an SBS Transit bus.
One of them was smoking an e-cigarette, while the other two were smoking cigarettes.
In a separate case, another youth was also captured on video lighting up a cigarette in what appears to be the upper deck at the back of a double-decker bus last year.
E-cigarettes are banned in Singapore
Starting from November 2017, it is illegal for people to buy, use and own imitation tobacco products like e-cigarettes, e-cigars and e-pipes.
If that’s not all, it is also an offence for individuals under the age of 18 to smoke in Singapore, and those convicted are liable to a fine of up to S$300.
Smoking is also prohibited in most indoor locations in the Republic, which include public buses. Those who are found guilty can be imposed a composition sum of S$200, or up to S$1,000 if convicted in court.
Additionally, under section 16 (2A) of the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act (TCASA), it is illegal to possess, purchase and use electronic vaporisers in Singapore as of 1 February 2018. Individuals who are found guilty of this offence can be fined up to S$2,000.
Under section 16(1) of the TCASA, importing vaporisers are also not allowed from 1 August 2016 onwards. This means that purchasing vaporisers online or shipping them to Singapore for one’s personal user is illegal. If you’re guilty of committing the offence, you’re entitled to be fined of up to S$10,000 or jailed up to six months or both.
The authorities have also stressed that the public should refrain from using e-vaporisers, and discard any of such devices if they have them in possession.
TOC has reached out to the National Environment Agency (NEA) on this matter and is yet to receive a reply.
Upon viewing the video, many netizens have raised their disappointment towards the young man in the Facebook page of SG Road Vigilante. They added that his parents will also be so disappointed at how he behaved while travelling on a public bus. Some even opined that he is “trying to act cool” and that he a “cocky blatant wrong doer” who is a “disgrace as a youth”.
Wind Teo said the young man might have the impression that he had performed a “hero action”, but in reality it’s a “childish behaviour”. Teo added that the youth might not even have the “money to pay” the fine.
A few said that the man should be reported to the Police and NEA for his action, given that he has committed an offence.
