Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Thursday that two retailers were fined S$1,000 each for selling illegally modified electric bicycles. In a press release, LTA said that the e-bikes were illegally modified with throttles that enabled the bikes to reach speeds exceeding 35km/h without the rider having to pedal.
The two retailers have been identified as Lim Geok Kay of Teck Bee Brothers Company at 220 Syed Alwi Road and Chia Thuang Chiew of CPP Trading at Block 731 Yishun Street 72.
LTA said that although electric bicycles are currently allowed on public roads, but, throttles are not allowed on roads. The throttles allows the bicycle to function like a motorcycle, which requires the rider to have a licence
The authorities added that the throttle feature can also be misused, allowing the bicycle to travel faster than 25km/h without pedaling. It said that this poses a safety hazard.
Earlier this year, the Road Traffic Act was amended so that a person could be charged in court for selling a non-compliant electric bicycle, or illegally modifying it for use.
According to reports, the first offenders could be fined up to S$5,000, jailed up to three months or both. The repeat offenders could be fined up to S$1,000, jailed up to six months or both.
LTA also urged members of the public, who spot illegally modified electric bicycles, to alert the authorities at 1800-CALL-LTA (1800-2255-582) or by emailing feedback@lta.gov.sg.
