A new law is being proposed to clamp down on errant users of personal mobility devices (PMDs), electric scooters and hoverboards.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan introduced the Active Mobility Bill in Parliament on Nov. 9.

Errant users will face the prospect of fines and jail terms in the future.

Currently, cyclists and riders of electric-powered bicycles (e-bikes) are mainly regulated under the Road Traffic Act.

If passed into law, it will bring about harsher penalties for those failing to comply with how and where such e-devices are used and also penalise sellers of non-compliant e-bikes.

Proposed penalties under Active Mobility Bill:

Riding recklessly

Fine up to $5,000, jail up to 6 months, or both

Not stopping to offer assistance to victim and reporting the accident

Fine up to $3,000, jail up to 12 months, or both

Display of non-compliant bicycles and PMDs for businesses

Fine up to $1,000, jail up to 3 months, or both

Sale of non-compliant bicycles and PMDs for use on public paths

Fine up to $5,000, jail up to 3 months, or both

Alteration of bicycles or PMDs that renders them non-compliant

Fine up to $5,000, jail up to 3 months, or both

Other offences within the Act

Fine up to $1,000, jail up to 3 months, or both

Under the Road Traffic Act, first-time offenders who sell such e-bikes or illegally modify them currently face a fine of up to $2,000 or jail of up to three months.

Under the new Bill, powers of enforcement will be given to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and other agencies, such as the National Parks Board.

This will allow them to stop and examine whether PMDs are non-compliant and seizing them if so.

Community volunteers under the Active Mobility Patrol Scheme will also be empowered to obtain the personal particulars of errant users.

Top photo by Land Transport Authority

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