Elderly couple slapped with over $1k in traffic fines despite not owning a car: 'We didn't break the law'

Letters about illegal parking keep arriving at an elderly couple's house — except they do not own a car.

Since September 2025, over 50 letters and reminder notices to settle fines for parking offences have been sent by the authorities, reported Shin Min Daily News.

To the couple's surprise, they have even been summoned to attend court because of the unpaid fines, the report stated.

Deliveryman Wang, 70, told the publication that the letters are addressed to his wife, who does not drive.

"We don't own a car, and neither do our two children. It's perplexing," he said of the situation.

Wang explained that his last car bore the licence plate number "4155" and was scrapped in 2024.

On the other hand, the letters state the licence plate of the offending car as "7965Y".

According to Shin Min, the unknown owner of the car in question had been issued 19 tickets for parking offences in the Toa Payoh and Jalan Sultan areas between Sept 19, 2025 and Feb 5, 2026.

The fine amount totalled about $1,320.

The couple said they have made two police reports over the situation.

In the report, Wang's wife reportedly said she had contacted the Land Transport Authority and verified that the car was not registered in her name. She also reportedly clarified to the Housing Development Board that she was not the vehicle owner.

The man said they understood from the authorities that they could disregard the tickets if they are not the car owner.

"My wife has been having sleep difficulties because of this. We are just ordinary people, we didn't break the law, and we don't have the money to pay the fine," he complained.

Wang's wife added that some of the traffic tickets appear to have been waived, but about nine are still outstanding.

The woman has been informed by the authorities about not needing to appear in court, and the authorities are currently investigating the matter, reported Shin Min.

lim.kewei@asiaone.com

一对老年夫妇不断收到关于非法停车的信件——但他们根本没有车。

据《新明日报》报道，自 2025 年 9 月以来，有关部门已发出 50 多封催缴停车罚款的信件和通知。

报道称，令这对夫妇感到惊讶的是，他们甚至因为未缴纳罚款而被传唤出庭。

70岁的送货员王先生告诉媒体，这些信件是寄给他妻子的，而他的妻子不会开车。

“我们没有车，我们的两个孩子也没有。这真是令人费解，”他谈到这种情况时说道。

王先生解释说，他的最后一辆车的车牌号是“4155”，已于 2024 年报废。

另一方面，信件显示违规车辆的车牌号为“7965Y”。

据《新明日报》报道，涉事车辆的车主身份不明，在 2025 年 9 月 19 日至 2026 年 2 月 5 日期间，在大巴窑和苏丹路一带因违章停车被开具了 19 张罚单。

罚款总额约为1320美元。

这对夫妇表示，他们已就此事向警方报案两次。

报道称，王某的妻子表示，她已联系陆路交通管理局核实，确认该车辆并非登记在她名下。她还向建屋发展局澄清，她并非车主。

该男子表示，他们从有关部门了解到，如果他们不是车主，就可以忽略罚单。

“这件事让我妻子一直睡不好觉。我们只是普通人，我们没有违法，也没有钱支付罚款，”他抱怨道。

王先生的妻子补充说，有些交通罚单似乎已被免除，但仍有大约九张未缴。

据《新明日报》报道，当局已告知该女子无需出庭，目前当局正在调查此事。

lim.kewei@asiaone.com