Retailers caught, 18 illegal PMDs and 2 PABs seized in LTA operation
Errant sellers found displaying or advertising non-compliant devices
When officers from the Singapore Police Force, Traffic Police and the enforcement unit of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) entered his shop, Mr Victor Lee felt a little intimidated, even though he had nothing to worry about.
The 36-year-old is general manager of Falcon PEV, one of 18 retailers targeted in LTA's first operation to weed out errant sellers of personal mobility devices (PMDs) and power-assisted bicycles (PABs).
The island-wide operation was conducted between July 17 and Aug 2.
Mr Lee's company passed the inspection, he told The New Paper.
LTA said in a press release yesterday that five retailers were found either displaying or advertising non-compliant PMDs and PABs.
Under the Road Traffic Act and the Active Mobility Act, first-time offenders can be fined up to $1,000, jailed for up to three months, or both.
Five retailers were also caught for not displaying LTA's prescribed warning notice, an offence which has the same penalties
Some of the retailers committed both offences.
A total of 18 PMDs and two PABs were seized, with one of the impounded devices weighing almost 50kg - more than twice the prescribed limit.
PMDs cannot exceed 20kg in weight, 70cm in width, and 25kmh in device speed if motorised, while PABs need to fulfil a host of technical requirements, including a maximum weight of 20kg and a power output rating of up to 250 watts.
Mr Lee said his company had removed its non-compliant devices from its stores and showrooms a few months ago but the latest enforcement operation has put him on his toes.
He added: "(LTA) is trying to clean up the industry, which I think is good for its long-term overall health."
Mr Jay Jin, general manager of Kernel Scooter, said targeting errant retailers can eliminate non-compliant devices at its root.
Mr Jin, 29, said: "Without people supplying these non-compliant PMDs, the numbers will go down and it will create a safer environment for everybody."
The LTA advised the public to exercise caution and ensure they purchase only compliant devices if they wish to use them on public paths or roads.
Both Mr Lee and Mr Jin said that the number of non-compliant devices seized during the operation seemed low compared with what is still available in the market.
According to LTA, between May 1 and July 15, enforcement officers spotted 922 PMD and PAB-related offences, and impounded 701 non-compliant devices.
Mr Jin believes that there are still retailers and home-based sellers who continue to hawk non-compliant PMDs and PABs in a bid to clear their stock.
Mr Ang Hin Kee, deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, said purchases of PMDs and PABs made online, rather than via physical shops, was an area that the LTA could look into as well.
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