Playing loud music or putting your feet up on a Singapore bus can now get you fined. The new rules took effect on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced on September 21, after Singapore’s Parliament passed the law behind them in October 2025.
What Counts as an Offense and How Much It Costs
- Up to S$500: causing nuisance or annoyance by playing audio at a loud volume or placing feet on seats, and eating or drinking on a public bus.
- Up to S$5,000: littering or soiling a public bus, under the bus regulations, and more serious conduct such as causing an obstruction or danger to other commuters at a bus interchange or terminal.
The penalties are aligned with the Rapid Transit Systems Regulations already in force on Singapore’s trains. LTA says the rules will foster a “safer, more considerate and pleasant public transport environment for all.”
Who Enforces the Rules
Bus drivers, known in Singapore as “bus captains,” will not issue fines themselves. Instead, empowered staff from the public bus operators, such as ticket inspectors and interchange staff, can issue Administrative Notifications of Offences to suspected offenders, after which LTA investigates.
Bus captains can still advise commuters to stop disruptive behavior, require passengers who do not comply to get off, and call the Bus Operations Control Centre, or the police in egregious cases. LTA says it and the operators will exercise “discretion and fairness,” especially with passengers who have physical or mental health conditions.
What Travelers Should Know Before Riding Singapore’s Buses
Since December 2024, LTA and the transport operators have put up signs on public transport asking commuters to keep noise levels down and occupy only one seat. The new fines turn those reminders into enforceable rules on buses.
On the bus, use headphones for audio, keep your voice low and follow posted signs, the same etiquette that already applies on Singapore’s trains.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do the same rules apply on Singapore’s MRT trains?
Yes. Similar rules already apply on the MRT and LRT under the Rapid Transit Systems Regulations, and LTA says the new bus penalties are aligned with them.
Can tourists be fined, and is the fine paid on the spot?
The rules apply to all bus passengers, and LTA has not announced any exemption for visitors. Fines are not collected on the spot: operator staff issue an Administrative Notification of Offence, and LTA then follows up with an investigation.
Can I take a phone call on speaker on a Singapore bus?
You should not. The bus Conditions of Carriage say passengers using a phone or other device that emits sound should use an earpiece or headset. Playing audio loudly enough to annoy other passengers can now lead to a fine of up to S$500.
Can I bring durians on a Singapore bus?
Only if they are in vacuum-sealed packaging, under the bus Conditions of Carriage. Smoking is also banned on buses, and passengers must not stand on the upper deck or sit on the steps of double-deckers. Read more about Singapore’s durian rules.
What if I have a medical condition and need to eat or drink on the bus?
LTA has not published a medical exemption. It says it and the bus operators will exercise discretion and fairness, especially for commuters with physical or mental health conditions.
Sources
- LTA, New Regulations on Public Buses and at Bus Interchanges/Terminals Implemented from 23 September 2026
- Singapore Statutes Online, Bus Services Industry (Control of Conduct and Activities: Public Bus) Regulations 2026
- LTA, Better Commuting Experience for All (March 2025)
- LTA, Conditions of Carriage for Public Buses
- The Independent, Popular Asian travel hub introduces huge fines for playing loud music on the bus
- The Straits Times, Bus commuters playing music loudly, putting feet on seats face fines of up to $500 from Sept 23
- CNN, Listening to loud music on a Singapore bus? It’ll cost you
- CNA, Bus passengers face fines of up to S$500 for playing loud audio, putting feet on seats from Sep 23
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