ICA issues S$100 fine for driver who went into JB with less than 3/4 tank

If you’re driving to Johor and figuring you can outwit border control Customs checks that  Singapore-registered cars follow the “3/4 tank” rule, think again.

Since the Singapore-Malaysia borders opened on Apr 1, at least one driver has apparently copped a $100 fine for failing to ensure that the petrol tank of their Singapore-registered car at least three-quarters full.

Perhaps some drivers are also too preoccupied with paperwork – actual or digital – over such issues as  vehicle tolls, other restrictions and the potential of quarantine.Or just obsessed with getting that first exhilarating fill of “cheap petrol” north of the Causeway.

The story of a driver who tried to drive into Johor with less than the stipulated amount in his petrol tank and got fined is making the rounds on social media.

That followed an earlier report on ChannelNewsAsia that as of Apr 3, 55 vehicles had already been turned back at checkpoints.

In a post to popular Facebook group Complaint Singapore, netizen Kelly Ong shared the letter from the Singapore Customs,  informing someone she knew was fined S$100.

She captioned her Apr 5 post: “Singapore-Malaysia border checkpoints due to less than 3/4 fuel tank rule”, and added that she was not the one who was fined.

The letter from Singapore Customs contained this notice to attend court under Section 125A:  “Sect 136(1) of the Customs Act: Attempting to leave Singapore in a motor vehicle with a fuel tank for motor fuel containing less than the minimum amount of motor fuel prescribed for that fuel tank, an offence under the Customs Act.”

So the errant driver had a choice: attend court and argue their case. Or just hand over the composition fine of S$100.

Here’s what netizens said: