Remember the photos of a Singaporean driver swapping number plates on his gold-coloured BMW in Johor from earlier this month? The case is now under investigation after the actual owner of the number plate, registered to a Hyundai Elantra in Singapore, filed a report with the authorities.
The island state’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) confirmed to The Straits Times that it is looking into the matter. About an hour after switching the plates at a Petron station in Gelang Patah on the morning of May 18, the E90 3 Series was caught speeding by highway cameras.
The BMW’s original license plate is SLX27E, but it was caught on camera with the plate SKD2777C. After the pics went viral that afternoon, netizens who checked on MyEG found two outstanding speeding summonses issued to the Hyundai’s number plate – one from last July and another on May 18, 2019.
The summonses were no longer listed on May 20. The BMW, now wearing its original number plates, was seen heading into Singapore that same day. The images and screenshots here are from the SG Road Vigilante Facebook page.
The ST report quoted a Singaporean witness to the incident. “There were many Singapore cars at the petrol station that morning. And this driver was changing his car plate so openly. Many of us were shocked at what we saw. The (BMW) driver was so arrogant and a very bad example for Singaporeans. What if he had got into an accident in Malaysia and someone had been injured or killed? His insurer could contest his claims,” he told the daily.
“This thing has gone viral. If nothing is done, people might start copying the BMW driver and change to a different vehicle number plate when driving in Malaysia,” the witness added.
When contacted by ST, Johor police deputy chief Datuk Mohd Kamaruddin Md Din said that he was unaware of the practice. “So far, we don’t have such cases against Singaporean drivers. If it is true, we want this irresponsible act to be stopped. We will not hesitate to take stern action.”
Malaysia’s Road Transport Act states that if a car is found with a number plate that does not belong to it, the offender could be fined up to RM5,000 and jailed for up to a year. The vehicle could also be seized. Tampering with car registration plates is also an offence in Singapore.
“Although the Singapore-registered car bearing a false Singapore number plate was driven outside Singapore, if as a result of the forged car number plate, another driver in Singapore is penalised for offences not committed by him, there may be enough nexus for this scenario to fall within ‘exhibiting forged or imitation number plate’ under the Road Traffic Act, or ‘cheating’ under the Penal Code,” lawyer Chia Boon Teck from Singaporean law firm Chia Wong told ST.
Singapore’s penalty for displaying a forged number plate is a fine of up to S$5,000 and/or jail of up to a year.
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The policeman said he was unaware of this practice. That’s why they dare to speed on our road coz they’ll ask back where’s the proof? It could be other car bearing their plate no or worst a cloned car. Can’t take action just let go. After that make noise so many foreign cars with outstanding summons yet no forthcoming solution still
Common lah. Many also wearing fake Rolex and Polo shirt. Show off at ba ku teh store.
I told you many many years ago. Dont let these singaporeans cross the border before you got the summon money
By doing this you can track something is wrong when the car caught speeding with number plates that never come in in the first place
Lock them in jails all i care
And the summon is 300 Sing Dollar dont be so stupid 300 ringgit is nothing
Came in with ori plate, get summons with fake plates, leave with ori plate. How to detect and prevent them from leaving?
Singapore Beng no scared Msian authorities one. They know if saman also, the system won’t be able to catch them.
But this time, this Ah Beng will be scared cos Singapore gamen LTA investigating. Singaporean biggest scared is gamen. Also hor, Singapore gamen kennot coffee money one. Die liao this Beng. Sure kena one.
such low penalty… no wonder he dare to do it in brought day light..
I think in Singapore it’s not only about the fine.If not mistaken they have demerit system and that’s worse than just paying fine..
Rm 5000 nia…. Masuk jail la or saman rm300k sekali. Dua kali 500k. Last chance masuk lock up.
why susah2 want to catch singaporean? a lot of malaysian depan mata drive way above speed limit also never catch.
Bangsat bawak BMW lama …. kasi masuk lokap
Singaporian disayangi, rakyat disamani. Malaysia baharu!
Mestila sayang. Do you know which party rules Singapore? Anak parti is currently ruling Malaysia government. Anak kena sayang bapa.
Lol! Caught only because he did it openly and so many were watching. Not the brightest bulb in Sinkay. Those who do it on a regular basis, does so in secluded parking lots in JB. This guy, his arrogance and pride overwhelmed whatever brains he had.
Stupid to let them into Malaysia
Dont know such practice? I tot so many car duplicate license plate? So many case, he cannot think this was happening? Wth
Typical kiasu people.. now the owner knows, he wont be driving his Beemer now, he can switch to his Vellfire next time when he enters Malaysia.
How the authority gonna catch him?
The last summon was on 17 October 2018 and not july 2018. You should get bigger glasses