From 1 July 2008, the penalty fee regulations to deter fare evasion on basic bus and train services will come into effect. Fare evaders who are caught for deliberately not paying or under-paying the correct fares when travelling on basic bus or train services will be required to pay a penalty fee of $20. Any misuse of concession cards (e.g. for students, NS-men) will face a penalty fee of $50.

Today, only train services have existing regulations on fare evasion but basic bus services do not. The penalty fee regulations will remove this disparity that exists between the two modes of public transport.

The objective of penalty fees is to deter evasion of fares on basic bus and train services. Mr Gerard Ee, Chairman of the Public Transport Council (PTC) explained: "Fare evasion is a dishonest act. The penalty fee is to discourage such behaviour. Commuters who are already paying the correct fares will not be affected as the penalty fee system is targeted at fare evaders only."

Prior to the commencement of the penalty fee regulations on 1 July 2008, the public transport operators, SBS Transit and SMRT, will embark on an awareness programme to inform commuters of the penalty fee that will be levied for fare evasion. Transit Link, on behalf of the two public transport operators, will separately announce the implementation of the penalty fee system.