You may be fined for failing to turn off your engine
I came across this in the Straits Times forum just the other day, “An offence to leave engines running”:
We refer to the letter by Ms Chua Mei Ling, “Running engines add to pollution” (April 3).
Leaving a vehicle engine running unnecessarily is an offence under the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations.
The National Environment Agency conducts regular enforcement checks in areas where drivers of vehicles are observed to have left their engines running without good reason. Motorists caught could be issued with a warning or fine.
The writer can provide us with the necessary details to do a follow-up by contacting our call centre on 1800 CALL NEA (1800-2255632).
Tan Quee Hong, Director, Pollution Control Department, National Environment Agency
I certainly haven’t had the chance to see anyone being caught for the act, but enforcement is definitely in place. How regularly are the checks conducted? Well, that is difficult to answer but I would think that Taxi drivers form the bulk of the culprits, followed by couples engaging in some heated action in the carparks of the Lower Pierce Reservoir. If they aren’t, I suggest the enforcement officers change their target locations.
P.S. I wonder if hybrid vehicle owners who reason that they are charging their batteries substantiate the argument?
