A taxi driver has been given a S$2,500 fine by a court in Singapore for shining a laser light directly at a bus driver.
The 51-year-old man, Huzairi Hamzah, was punished on Monday (July 28) for a dangerous act. For shining a laser light directly at a bus driver near Changi Airport, his action was seen as a “rash act endangering the personal safety of others.”
Huzairi Hamzah admitted he was guilty of this charge.
Shining laser light at bus
The incident happened when Huzairi Hamzah used a laser pointer to shine a bright light at a bus. Reportedly, this light went into the bus driver’s eyes. The bus driver’s vision became blurry because of the strong laser light. This happened after the bus had moved into the taxi’s lane. Huzairi Hamzah shone the laser for a short time, between two and three seconds. Even though it was a short time, it was long enough to affect the bus driver’s sight.
During the court case, the prosecutor, who is the lawyer for the government, asked the court to fine Huzairi Hamzah the full S$2,500.
The prosecutor told the court that Huzairi had purposely shone the light. They said that he knew very well that there was a real chance the laser beam could distract the bus driver and cause problems.
For an act like “a rash act endangering personal safety,” the law in Singapore allows for different punishments. The person could be fined up to S$2,500, put in jail for up to six months, or both a fine and jail time. In Huzairi Hamzah’s case, the court decided on a fine of S$2,500.
