Fined $200 for nap on Park Bench !!

[Othello]

This is ridiculous !!! Has our GOVT lost so much money in the subprime that they have to recover money from us peasants this way ??

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNew...ory_290308.html

 

Costly park bench nap Nappers can be fined $200 for misuse of park facility.

WHAT was supposed to be a free 15-minute nap on a park bench turned into a costly snooze for one Singaporean.

The New Paper on Tuesday reported that a 62-year-old, who only wanted to be known as Mr Kassim, was fined $200 when he dozed off on a Sun Plaza Park bench while taking shelter from the rain.

The National Parks Board (NParks) fined the private bus driver for having misused the park facility by sleeping on the bench.

The incident happened on Sept 1 at a park in Tampines.

Mr Kassim had dozed off on one of the wooden benches while seeking shelter from a heavy downpour. He woke up about 15 minutes later to see two men, who would later identify themselves as NParks rangers, walking towards him.

They asked for his identity card, told him he had 'abused park facilities by sleeping on the park bench', and issued him a ticket.

Mr Kassim accepted the ticket despite not knowing it was an offence to sleep on a park bench.

Five days later, he received an NParks letter detailing his offence and asking him to pay the $200 fine. When he went to the NParks office to make payment, he claimed he was told by a staff member that he could appeal.

But he decided against it, citing it would be a hassle.

According to an NParks spokesman, more than 10 people have been fined for misusing the facilities in the parks. The spokesman did not say if these specifically involved sleeping on park benches.

He told TNP: 'We try to create the conditions that make visitors feel at ease... When people abuse our parks by overstaying or squatting, they make genuine park users feel uncomfortable. Others sleep on benches or in shelters in an inconsiderate manner and deny park users from these facilities.'

Of eight regular park-goers surveyed by The New Paper, none knew that sleeping on park benches was an offence.

On the NParks website, there is a list of 'Dos' and 'Don'ts' for visiting parks. Sleeping on a park bench was not among the 'Don'ts', but there was a disclaimer which said the list was 'not exhaustive or intended to be a complete list of the prohibitions or regulations governing our parks'.

[Silver_blade]

This is ridiculous.

[Nhyone]

Put a book in front of you and pretend you dozed off while reading.

Edited October 14, 2008 by nhyone

[Speddevil]

This peasant had genuine valid reasons and appeal against this offence. Those Npark rangers really stick to the book without using logical thinking[shakehead]

[Speddevil]

It is costly to stroll in the park if you accidentally doze off

[Silver_blade]

Agree.

 

Actually, that guy should have a valid reason to appeal...but he choose convenience and pay the fine.

[Othello]

obviously someone has got too much time, nothing to do, go ard parks to catch "nappers" !!!

 

Others sleep on benches or in shelters in an inconsiderate manner and deny park users from these facilities.'

 

deny park users ?? there's hardly anyone using these parks on a weekday day time ... this is really bad .....

[Othello]

Even some carpark aunties will hang around your car for awhile to see if anyone running or coming towards it, these Npark people relly never give chance ....

[Speddevil]

the authorities know how to exploit majority weakness.. comprain here and there we still pay.. see it a hassle. they treat it as windfall at our expense

[Roborovskii]

This is absolutely ridiculous. Next time implement ERP at park shelters?

[Boyboy]

partly his fault. but who can really blame him if the authorities have been SO gracious in the past?

 

this is new to me too. must ensure that if i fall asleep at a park, it's on the grass. maybe some dog will come and pee on me

 

well done nparks!!!

[Blackyv]

F*ck.... not sure is there any hidden sh*t of rules and regulation stated that i cannot fall asleep on a smrt bus, mrt or lrt hor....

[Speddevil]

dun really understand their mentality.. my frd who juz had operation a few month ago met a damn bad carpark aunties. He was the last person as he was limping all his way to retrieve his car and wave to the auntie that he is here. the auntie told him that his car veh no is already keyed into the system and cannot be changed which in actual fact that did not happen as he saw her keying slowly into the handhled system. My frd was furious and lashed out at the auntie for taking advantage of this disability to summon him where she can also summon other drivers. reali inconsiderate

[Speddevil]

gota check it out

[Blackyv]

who tell u u can sleep on the grass??... maybe the fine is $500 due to dirtied and damages to the grass...

[Silver_blade]

Err...are you sure sleep on the grass is ok?

[Silver_blade]

the authorities know how to exploit majority weakness.. comprain here and there we still pay.. see it a hassle. they treat it as windfall at our expense

I guess...sometimes, I feel they are very high-handed in the way they handled some cases.

[Mr_b20]

SGP is becoming more and more RIDICULOUS