LTA impounds 78 AMDs to tackle rise in fires linked to non-compliant devices in residential areas
Calista Wong for The Straits Times
Seventy-eight active mobility devices (AMDs) in public areas and housing estates were impounded during the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) islandwide enforcement operation this week.
The operation is part of LTA's ongoing efforts to address the rising number of fire incidents involving non-compliant AMDs in residential areas.
AMDs include power-assisted bicycles (PABs), personal mobility devices (PMDs) and personal mobility aids.
LTA is empowered to take enforcement action against non-compliant PABs and PMDs, and will issue notices to owners of impounded registered devices, it said in a Facebook post on May 23.
PABs and e-scooters must be registered with LTA. Owners of unregistered devices can contact LTA for verification and investigation, it added.
It is an offence to keep non-compliant PABs. Offenders may be fined up to $10,000 or face imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
LTA can impound non-compliant PABs from any location, or any devices found on public paths including Housing Board common corridors and stairwells, if they are deemed to endanger other public path users.
It reminded the public to purchase and use devices and parts, including batteries, only from original manufacturers or authorised retailers.
In its annual statistics report released on Feb 13, the Singapore Civil Defence Force said that the total number of fires involving AMDs rose from 55 in 2023 to 67 in 2024. Out of the 67 AMD fires, 44 were in residential areas.
For more information on AMD-related fires, visit https://go.gov.sg/bedevicesafe
