COVID-19: False case of safe-distancing fine for cycling

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This entry is a part of Wiki.sg's coverage on the evolving COVID-19 situation in Singapore. For more COVID-19 stories, click here.

As safe-distancing measures are ramped up islandwide, false cases of fines have also emerged. Photo credit to Kentaro Iwamoto/ Nikkei Asian Review.

In April 2020, the Singapore government implemented stricter social distancing measures in light of the worsening COVID-19 situation.[1] At the start, enforcement officers would only give out written advisories to first-time offenders.[2] As of 12 April 2020, individuals who are caught flouting the measures will be issued a $300 fine instead of a warning.[3] The Straits Times reported that 200 fines have been issued on 14 April 2020.[4] In tandem with these implementations, false claims of safe-distancing fines have surfaced on social media.

Origins of the hoax

An image of the messages in question. Photo adapted from Mothership.sg.

In early April 2020, messages containing the following two claims had been circulated on Whatsapp. In these claims, the supposed individuals have been fined for allegedly flouting the social-distancing measures. These claims were also seen on Facebook groups.

Claim 1: Family of three fined for cycling

The first claim alleged that a family - consisting of the father and his two daughters - were fined for cycling together outdoors.

Claim 2: A pair of friends fined at a roadblock

The second claim alleged that a pair of friends who were in the same vehicle had been fined after a check at a police roadblock revealed that they lived in separate locations.[5]

Claim 1: Debunked by the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR)

"If you are going out for exercise. Maximum of 2 persons..."

The message implied that the family had broken the law as only two people from the same household were allowed to be together outdoors.[6]

MEWR’s response

As of 14 April, there are no restrictions on how many individuals from the same household are allowed in public. Hence, the claim that "a maximum of two persons" from the same household are allowed outside is false. The only regulation as stated on the official Gov.sg website is as such: 

(i) Any outdoor activity must be done with your immediate family members.[7]

As of 14 April 2020, the official stance by MEWR is as such: 

(i) Exercising in nearby parks is permitted.[8]

(ii) Individuals and family members are allowed to exercise by walking, jogging and cycling.[9]

Singapore’s Cycling Federation’s safety guidelines

Given this incident, the Singapore Cycling Federation also released a statement on their Facebook page. They reminded cyclists that all cycling outdoors must be done alone or with individuals living in the same household. The Federation also emphasised that it would be preferable not to cycle during this period.[10]

Referencing an academic paper by researchers from Netherlands' Eindhoven University of Technology and Belgium's KU Leuven,[11] the Federation issued the following safety guidelines: 

(i) Cyclists should observe at least a four-metre distance from each other because of the air currents generated, also known as a slipstream.[12]

(ii) That distance can be increased to 20 metres if the cyclist is travelling at high speeds.[13]

Claim 2: Debunked by the Singapore Police Force (SPF)

"... they checked both their ICs which apparently didn't match within the same household."

The alleged pair of friends was supposedly stopped at a police roadblock and fined because their Identification Cards showed different residential addresses.[14] It was implied that the police were enforcing safe-distancing measures at roadblocks. Some renditions of the message had an attached image of the ticket, while others had an attached screenshot showing the locations of police roadblocks.[15]

SPF's response

The SPF debunked the rumour on their Facebook page on 13 April 2020. In their post, they clarified that no member of the public has been fined for flouting social distancing measures at a roadblock.[16] SPF noted that they have not conducted roadblocks since the elevated safe distancing measures were put in place.[17] They added that roadblocks are meant to identify possible cases of drink-driving and to catch wanted criminals - not to enforce safe-distancing measures.[18]

References/ Citations

  1. ↑ Lai, Linette and Yuen Sin. “More stringent measures imposed as new coronavirus cases reach high of 287”. The Straits Times. April 10, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  2. ↑ Lee, Jeremy. “7,000 Safe Distancing Warnings Issued On 1st Day Of ‘Circuit Breaker’, 1st-Time Offenders May Get Jail & Fine”. MustShare News. April 8, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  3. ↑ Goh, Yan Han and Wong, Lester. “Coronavirus: $300 fine for flouting circuit breaker measures”. The Straits Times. April 12, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  4. ↑ Ng, Michelle. "Coronavirus: 200 fines issued on April 14 to safe distancing offenders". The Straits Times. April 14, 2020. Accessed on 15 April 2020.
  5. ↑ FactChecker.sg. “Everyone has been coming up with their various…”. Facebook. April 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  6. ↑ Ong, Tanya. “Police responds to WhatsApp message that claims friends fined for being in same car”. Mothership. April 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  7. ↑ “What you can and cannot do during the circuit breaker period”. Gov.sg. April 11, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  8. ↑ “Safe Distancing”. Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  9. ↑ “Update on Enforcement Actions and Refresher on What to Do and Not to Do”. Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. April 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  10. ↑ Singapore Cycling Federation. “Note: The most important message not to be lost in…”. Facebook. April 11, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  11. ↑ Lee, David. “Coronavirus: Stay away from others, cyclists in S'pore urged”. The Straits Times. April 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  12. ↑ Singapore Cycling Federation. “Quote from ST: A white paper from the Netherlands' Eindhoven University of Technology…”. Facebook. April 12, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  13. ↑ Lee, David. “Coronavirus: Singapore Cycling Federation recommends 20m spacing for riders from separate households”. The Straits Times. April 12, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  14. ↑ “[COVIDWatch]: Were two individuals stopped at a road block and warned of a $10,000 fine?”. Black Dot Research. April 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  15. ↑ “[COVIDWatch]: Are road blocks being set up to check on why people are on the road?”. Black Dot Research. April 10, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  16. ↑ Singapore Police Force. “[POLICE DO NOT CONDUCT ROAD BLOCKS TO ENFORCE ELEVATED…”. Facebook. April 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  17. ↑ “Clarifications on misinformation regarding the Coronavirus disease 2019”. Factually. April 13, 2019. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
  18. ↑ “Coronavirus: No police road blocks to enforce elevated safe distancing measures”. The Straits Times. April 13, 2020. Accessed on 14 April 2020.
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