SNEAKERS? NO, THIS IS ABOUT SMOKING IN APARTMENTS
On September 26, the National Environment Agency (NEA) set the record straight on Facebook: there’s no enforcement for people puffing away in their own homes because the law actually doesn’t forbid smoking inside residences. In other words, if you’re a proud smoker, you’re fine at home—just not in public spaces.
Why the Rumors Were Wild
- Earlier this week, a Twitter user named @kiisamii claimed his brother’s friend got a $200 fine for smoking near his room—and that NEA had “pictorial evidence” of the act.
- Another user posted a photo of a camera bearing the NEA logo, supposedly placed in the corridor of an HDB flat.
- A third user shared the same image, captioning it: “So they just summoned someone and this was the camera that they installed to catch those smoking in bedrooms and all… NEA you so despo is it?” (spelling errors included).
What the NEA Actually Does
In response, NEA clarified that the cameras the agency installs are only for tackling high‑rise littering. They focus on the exterior façades of housing units or public common areas—think of them as the neighborhood watch for litter, not for sniffing out indoor smokers.
These surveillance devices are governed by strict protocols; footage is only used to facilitate investigations or serve in court. So if you’ve been accused of shoving a cigarette in your bedroom, NEA isn’t the culprit.
Fires In The Air: Thermal Cameras for Smoking Rules
By early 2019, the agency has started deploying thermal surveillance cameras specifically to enforce smoking prohibition in public spaces. These heat‑sensing cameras spot the flame of a cigarette in forbidden zones like corridors, lift lobbies, and staircase landings. If you’re smoking where you shouldn’t, you might find yourself caught by the heat‑seeking eye—but only at the public level.
Bottom Line
Case closed: NEA will not raid your living room for a puff. They’re busy putting cameras in places where littering is a problem and, a few years back, adding thermal eyes to make sure the public spaces stay smoke‑free. The drama over bedroom cameras? Just another piece of #FakeNews.
