LTA impounds e-scooters from PMD-sharing operators for flouting regulations

SINGAPORE — A total of 42 personal mobility devices (PMD) from three PMD-sharing operators have been impounded by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for flouting the Parking Places Act after they were found available for hire at public spaces.

The transport authority said in a media release on Tuesday (Nov 13) that the operators — Neuron Mobility, Telepod and Beam — are not permitted to operate on public land without a licence or an exemption by the Minister for Transport.

According to the LTA, exemptions were made for Neuron Mobility and Telepod to provide their services within the boundaries of one-north due to an existing agreement with landowner JTC.

Singapore-based operator Beam has not “obtained an exemption to provide PMD-sharing services in any part of Singapore, despite prior notice of the regulatory requirements”, added the authority.

An earlier report by Channel NewsAsia said that Beam would only be able to apply for an operating license in January 2019.

Twenty-six electric scooters from Neuron Mobility, and 15 from Telepod, were impounded after they were found around Bencoolen Street and Bayfront Avenue. One of Beam’s electric scooters was similarly impounded after it was found at Bugis MRT station.

“LTA is disappointed that Neuron Mobility, Telepod and Beam have deployed their PMDs illegally on public land, despite LTA’s repeated reminders and warnings between July to October 2018,” it said.

LTA said that it will be investigating Neuron Mobility and Telepod for “providing PMD-sharing services at public places without a licence or exemption”.

According to the Parking Places Act, it is an offence to provide device-sharing services at public places without a licence or exemption.

Unlicensed operators can be fined up to S$10,000 and/or face a jail term of up to six months, in addition to a fine of S$500 per day that the offence continues after conviction.

LTA will consider the operator’s track record, including their compliance with the law and regulatory requirements, when evaluating licence applications, it added.

Responding to a query from TODAY, a spokesperson for Telepod said that they have been deploying PMDs “responsibly” at approved public areas such as one-north and other areas under private land owners.

“For users who parked indiscriminately, we are actively taking action (including warnings and fines) against them,” said the spokesperson.

The spokesperson added that the firm will continue to operate responsibly and work closely with the LTA and their partners to “make (a) car-lite nation a reality”.

“As a result of our operating track records, we have gained many partnerships to extend our services to private lands and estates beyond One-North.”

Beam’s Vice-President of Corporate Affairs, Christopher Hilton, said they received a notice from the LTA on Oct 30 asking the firm to ensure that none of their devices were available for hire on public land.

Prior to that notice, 15 PMD devices were available for hire on private land as Beam was conducting trial tests. Mr Hilton said they ended the practice after receiving LTA’s notice.

“To ensure full compliance, Beam disabled the mobile application for all of our scooters ensuring that, regardless of location, none were available for hire as of November 1,” said Mr Hilton.

Their staff have also been riding the e-scooters while the firm works towards getting its licence in January, but Beam stressed that they are unavailable for public hire.

Mr Hilton was unable to confirm whether the PMD confiscated by the LTA was hired or used by one of their employees as they have not received a formal notice from the LTA. Their Beach Road office is a short distance from where the e-scooter was impounded at Bugis MRT.

“As soon as we have a bit more information about when it was confiscated, we will certainly try to find out more details,” he said.

TODAY has also reached out to Neuron Mobility for comments.