VEP Enforcement: 10 Singapore Vehicles Fined Within First Hour, 42K Not Active

Malaysia didn’t waste any time when it came to enforcing the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) rule. Just an hour after the clock struck midnight, ten Singaporean drivers were fined RM300 each for not having the required RFID tag on their cars.

The scene at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar checkpoint was slow-moving, with officers from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) checking every foreign-registered vehicle coming in. If a car didn’t have a valid, activated VEP, it was pulled over.

One of the drivers caught early on was 19-year-old student Safir Farhan. He was on his way to Johor Baru with his family for supper when he got stopped. Though he had already registered for the VEP, he hadn’t received the RFID tag yet. Still, he paid the fine on the spot at a mobile JPJ van and continued his journey.

JPJ’s Director-General, Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli had previously made it clear, enforcement applies to all Singaporean cars without the RFID tag, no matter the excuse. He said there would be no more delays or second chances, as motorists were given ample time to comply.

To avoid border jams, checks will be done further inland rather than right at the checkpoints. Anyone caught without a valid VEP has to pay their fine using cashless methods, either online, at JPJ counters, or via MyEG.

As of June 30, nearly 250,000 Singapore-registered private vehicles had signed up for the VEP. However, 17% (42,500) hadn’t yet activated their RFID tags. For commercial vehicles, the numbers were lower at under 4,000 tags out of 20,000 applications. JPJ said enforcement for the commercial group will be more relaxed, with warnings instead of fines for those still waiting for approval.

That said, vehicles with no registration at all won’t be let off the hook, they’ll need to settle their fines and register before leaving Malaysia.

The VEP system, first proposed back in 2017 had faced several delays over the years. Now, with enforcement finally in full swing, Malaysia aims to better track foreign vehicles and ensure they follow local road laws.

Source: NST