Do you know why "everything" seems so efficient in Singapore? That's because of all the laws, rules and regulations we have AND all these laws etc are ENFORCED. OK that was in the past because today it seems like the laws , rules and regulations are still around BUT nothing seems to be enforced these days. Look at the number of people "caught" eating on MRT trains or the number of traffic offenders who get away scott-free. If you don;t believe me, go to www.stomp.com.sg and check out the sections "Motoring Goondus "or "Ugly Communters". I have always wondered how someone could go about making a citizen's arrest. I'm not sure if submitting a picture or video of someone committing an offence is good enough for the police or the relevant authority to make an arrest or issue a summons. Maybe one of you lawyers out there can provide an answer to this. I have always wanted to just spend one hour driving around Singapore video taping traffic offences and submitting it to the traffic police. This would make for a great reality show but that's another "topic" which I shall share with you another time.
Like those litter bugs doing the corrective work order ie. sweeping the streets; I think folks caught eating on the MRT should be made to spend sometime "roaming" the trains "catching" people eating and issuing them with fines and they could also clean the trains and the stations as part of the punishment.They could wear bright red or orange t-shirts with the words "Reformed MRT Eater " hahahha!
The bottom line is that we can have all the laws, rules and regulations in the world but if they are not enforced then they are completely useless and not worth the paper they are written on. It goes for traffic signs too. How many times have you seen cars caught in the yellow box at traffic junctions. What yellow lines? Are there yellow lines painted on the road? Gee I never saw any!! How many times have you seen someone make an illegal U-turn right next to a "No U-Turn" sign. My condo has a "NO STOPPING OR WAITING HERE" sign in RED at a blind corner. I cannot tell you how many drivers I have screamed at " READ THE SIGN STUPID!!" as they nonchalantly wait right next to the sign.
The excuse that enforcement is difficult because there is just not enough manpower is getting old. Deputize retirees or employ private agencies like Cisco to do the work. The relevant authorities could do "blitzes" or "raids" once in a while, like my suggestion of just driving around ( preferably in unmarked cars) , armed with a camera or video camera or just issue tickets as they go along. Its sad that the only way folks are going to learn is when their pockets are hit. Maybe thats how we in Singapore have been "programmed" to learn........but thats another topic.
