The owner of the “Polite Car” which drew attention for its resemblance to a police patrol vehicle has removed most of the stickers on it following a stern warning from the police.
As per the reports, the 32-year-old man received the warning on July 2 under the Police Force Act 2004 after consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
It is an offence for a person who is not a police officer to wear or possess any police uniform, or to use any police insignia, knowing that it may mislead the public into believing they are a police officer. The penalty for this offence can be a jail term of up to six months, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.
The “Polite Car” was first noticed by motorists and shared on social media on June 15. At first glance, it appears to be a vehicle used by the Singapore Police Force (SPF).
It featured decals with the word “polite” instead of “police” and a QR code leading to an ice-cream shop website owned by the car owner.
The owner of the vehicle, businessman Goh Yong Wei, 32, stated in an interview with The Straits Times that ever since he affixed the decals to his Toyota Alphard in May, fellow drivers have been slowing down to yield to him on the road.
“As a driver and motorbike rider, I find that the driving culture in Singapore is not gracious, especially during peak hours,” Mr Goh said.
He added : “I want to be noticed. I want the attention. I want people to see me and slow down to avoid a collision.”
He mentioned that he has experienced over 10 car and motorcycle accidents within the last four years, and he decided to add the decals as a precautionary measure to avoid future accidents.
Netizens were divided in their opinions of the vehicle, with some praising it as a creative idea and others expressing concerns that it could be misleading due to its resemblance to a police car.
Image via Facebook
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