ICA officers to test for drink drivers at land and sea checkpoints

SINGAPORE – Officers from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) have been given powers to use breath tests on drivers from Oct 3.

Drivers may be tested at both the land and sea checkpoints and their vicinities.

Sea checkpoints refer to the land-based sea cargo checkpoints, where ICA officers may check on cargo drivers or motorists.

Those who fail the tests will be handed over to the police for follow-up action.

It is an offence for any motorist to refuse to comply with the administration of a breath test.

First-time offenders can be jailed for up to six months or fined up to $5,000.

Repeat offenders can be jailed for up to 12 months and fined up to $10,000.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said the new powers will enable ICA to protect public safety and strengthen protective security measures at the land and sea checkpoints.

The new powers are part of the phased roll-out of

amendments to the Road Traffic Act

that were passed in January.

The other provisions under the Act will be operationalised subsequently.

MHA said the amendments were to recalibrate the balance between deterrence and proportionality for road traffic offences and enhance the powers to enforce against errant motorists.

Previously, during the debate on the amendments, then Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said the changes did not signal a more lenient stance towards repeat offenders.

Rather, they were a recalibration, and the maximum penalties are stiff and remain unchanged.

The first set of amendments came into operation on June 12.

These pertained to the

removal of mandatory minimum sentences

for some dangerous driving offences.

The Traffic Police previously said the

road safety situation here has not improved

, with speeding violations surging 45.5 per cent in the first half of 2025.

There were also

more deaths and injuries

, and 862 people arrested for drink driving, compared with 818 in the same period in 2024.

In 2023, a

drink driver sped along the Tuas Checkpoint

car departure lane viaduct at speeds of up to 119kmh before losing control and striking an auxiliary police officer on duty.

The officer was

left in a vegetative state,

while the driver was later sentenced to three years and six months’ jail.

MHA said it takes a serious view of drink driving.

“We urge all motorists to act responsibly – if you drink, do not drive,” it said.