Feet On Seats, Loud Music Could Cost Bus Commuters $500, But Enforcement Question Remains

Bus commuters in Singapore could face fines of up to $500 for playing loud audio, putting their feet on seats, littering, or eating and drinking on public buses from 23 Sep 2026.

The new regulations, announced by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), will also cover conduct at bus interchanges and terminals.

The announcement has drawn significant attention online, with many netizens questioning how the rules would be enforced and expressing doubts about their effectiveness.

The announcement also stated that more serious offences, such as causing an obstruction, endangering other commuters or soiling a public bus, interchange or terminal, can carry penalties of up to $5,000.

Authorised employees of public bus operators, including ticket inspectors and bus interchange staff, will be able to issue Administrative Notifications of Offences to suspected offenders, with LTA subsequently investigating the cases.

Bus captains will not have the same enforcement powers but can advise passengers to stop disruptive behaviour and require those who do not comply to alight.

Nonetheless, LTA said it and public bus operators will continue to exercise discretion and fairness, particularly in cases involving commuters with physical or mental health conditions.

The announcement comes amid numerous reports of such incidents in the news, as well as complaints from netizens online.

In July 2025, a 52-year-old woman faced charges over incidents in 2023 in which she allegedly put her feet on a bus pole and refused to remove them.

The incidents on two separate bus services were said to have disrupted services and resulted in passengers having to disembark.