Law and Order in Singapore is governed by the Constitution, Legislation and Subsidiary legislation. The Constitution lays down the fundamental principles and basic framework of state organization and enshrines the fundamental rights of the individual.
Statutes or legislation are laws enacted by the Singapore Parliament as well as predecessor institutions that had the power to legislate for Singapore. Subsidiary legislation are minor rules made under the parent statute.
Special features of Singapore law: What you can and can't do
Littering
Singapore has got the image of a "fine city" and to ensure the image is maintained, the Government has enacted laws against littering. Any offender for the first time, has to pay a fine of up to S$1000.Repeat offenders, have to pay a fine of S$2000 and a Corrective Work Order (CWO).The CWO would require an offender to spend a few hours cleaning a public place, like picking up litter in a park. The offenders would have to wear bright jackets and at times, the media is invited to provide coverage to the spectacle.
Chewing Gum
As a continuation of the "no littering” mantra, the import, sale and possession of chewing gum is banned. This prohibition was brought in due to the high cost and difficulty in doing away with chewing gum from public places.
Smoking
Smoking is banned in public buses, bus interchange/stops, public toilets, swimming complexes, taxis, open air stadia, community centre/clubs, lifts, theatres, cinemas, government offices and in air conditioned restaurants, shopping centres, hawker centers and coffee shops.
Drugs
The law in Singapore is extremely strict with respect to drugs. Death penalty is mandatory for anyone convicted of trafficking, manufacturing, importing or exporting more than 15g of heroin, 30g of morphine, 30 g of cocaine, 500g of cannabis, 200g of cannabis resin and 1.2 kg of opium. Evidence of having these drugs is good enough reason to be deemed as a trafficker and therefore be given the death penalty. In Singapore the law has been able to effectively keep drugs out of the country, in spite of being near to the "Golden Triangle".
The law in Singapore is extremely strict with respect to drugs. Death penalty is mandatory for anyone convicted of trafficking, manufacturing, importing or exporting more than 15g of heroin, 30g of morphine, 30 g of cocaine, 500g of cannabis, 200g of cannabis resin and 1.2 kg of opium. Evidence of having these drugs is good enough reason to be deemed as a trafficker and therefore be given the death penalty. In Singapore the law has been able to effectively keep drugs out of the country, in spite of being near to the "Golden Triangle".
