JOHOR BARU: Transport Minister Anthony Loke has urged Singaporean motorists to promptly apply for the mandatory Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP), warning that phased enforcement will be introduced against those entering land checkpoints without the tag.
However, Loke said, the ministry's aim was not to penalise foreign-registered vehicles without a VEP, but to enforce the system which went into effect on Tuesday.
Up to yesterday, 75,412 Singaporean motorists had activated their VEP radio frequency identification device (RFID) tags, while 37,246 had received the tags but had yet to activate or install them.
The Road Transport Department (RTD) issued 50 reminders to Singaporeans who had entered the country without applying for the tag.
Loke said 678 cars were inspected by RTD officers in the past two days at both land crossings in the state, namely the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar and the Tuas Second Link.
"Of the 678 vehicles inspected, 50 reminder notices were issued to motorists who failed to apply for the VEP," he said at a press conference at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar here today.
The notices served as a reminder to Singaporean vehicle owners who have yet to apply for the VEP and were delaying since no action had been taken against them.
"We don't want them to rush to the VEP counters when we announce a deadline or start issuing fines. We want them to apply immediately," said Loke.
He assured motorists that they would receive ample notice before enforcement begins.
Only those who have not applied for the VEP will be flagged at outbound lanes and issued physical notices by RTD officers.
Those who have applied but have not yet received or activated their tags will be alerted by a system linked to LED panels at both Johor CIQ complexes, which are installed in all outbound and inbound lanes to remind Singaporean motorists of their tag status. Outbound vehicles without a VEP will receive a reminder.
Foreign vehicles without valid VEP tags after phased enforcement begins will either be denied entry into the country or fined up to RM2,000, which is about SG$614.