Before reviewing the penalties for flouting MRT rules, the authorities and train operators should do more to educate the public on the regulations ("Penalties for flouting MRT rules under review"; last Saturday).
For instance, not many know that it is an offence to pass items between the paid and unpaid areas without going through the fare gates. I often see people doing just that.
It makes no sense for someone to enter the paid area for just a few seconds to pass an item to another person.
If security is an issue, items passed into paid areas can be screened by the security staff.
Then, there is the offence of "entering or remaining in a train when it is full", which carries a maximum penalty of $500.
How does one define a "full" train? If the train is full and no one gets off, is that an offence?
And if someone manages to squeeze in, will he also be fined? Don't the operators want their trains to be running at full capacity?
Indeed, it is timely for a review of MRT rules.
Adam Tan
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