Man fined $600 for using oversized PMD in first case in Singapore: report
SINGAPORE — A 40-year-old man on Tuesday (16 July) became the first person in Singapore to be convicted in court over the use of a non-compliant personal mobility device (PMD).
According to The Straits Times, Loh Izel Feizal was fined $600 for riding an e-scooter that was 6 centimetres wider than the 70cm limit on the public path.
Loh, who is currently behind bars for drug-related offences, rode the e-scooter along Mountbatten Road at around 7pm on 15 May 2018.
His conviction comes after 48-year-old Aidel Ja’apar was fined $700 on Monday for riding a non-complaint power-assisted bicycle, also the first person in Singapore to be convicted of such an offence.
Requirements imposed to protect public
According to The Straits Times, Land Transport Authority (LTA) prosecutor Daniel Marini told the court that the requirements on the PMDs’ weight, width and speed are imposed to protect the public, as well as to minimise the potential harm and the likelihood of accidents occurring.
He added, “There is an ever-increasing prevalence of incidents involving PMDs and there is a need for general deterrence.
"It was reported that about 1,700 active mobility offences were detected in the first half of 2019, of which about 30 per cent... were related to riders using non-compliant devices."
More than 85k e-scooters registered
More than 85,000 e-scooters were registered with the LTA before the 30 June deadline. Those who registered must be at least 16 years old and declare that their e-scooters do not exceed 20kg in weight and 70cm in width. The e-scooter's motorised device speed should also be capped at 25kmh.
It is now illegal for PMD users to ride, cause or allow another person to ride an unregistered e-scooter on public paths.
First-time offenders convicted of riding a non-compliant PMD on a public path can be jailed for up to three months and fined up to $5,000. Repeat offenders can be jailed for up to six months and fined up to $10,000.
Have a tip-off? Email us at sgnews.tips@verizonmedia.com. In your email, do provide as many details as possible including videos and photos.
Other Singapore stories:
LTA carried out more than 4,600 enforcement operations in first half of 2019
Weekly reported dengue cases hit highest peak since 2016; NEA calls for urgent action
Man who died after falling from height at Ngee Ann City was US citizen
Accountant jailed 25 years, 10 months for embezzling $40.8M to gamble for over a decade
