Oral Reply by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng to Parliamentary Question on Enforcement Against Modified Active Mobility Device (AMD) Batteries

Mr Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Transport in view of the rise in fires caused by active mobility devices (AMD) in 2023

a.     what are the Ministry’s plans to carry out enforcement against the retailers and distributors of non-original AMD batteries; and

b.     whether the Ministry intends to increase the penalties for individuals who are found to have tampered with or modified their AMD batteries.

Reply by Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng:

1.     Any motorised personal mobility device (PMD) or power-assisted bicycle (PAB) that uses non-original batteries is non-compliant. It is an offence to illegally modify, sell, or use such devices on public paths and roads. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) conducts enforcement on paths and roads, and operations against retailers.

2.     From January 2020 to December 2023, LTA detected about 5,100 offences involving non-compliant devices on paths and roads. In the same period, LTA detected about 100 violations from operations against retailers. LTA does not track cases specifically involving non-original batteries. Non-compliant devices are immediately seized, and enforcement actions are taken.

3.     For first-time offenders, the maximum penalty for using a non-compliant device on a public path is a fine of up to $10,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months or both; the maximum penalty for retailer companies displaying a non-compliant device for sale is a fine of up to $20,000; and the maximum penalty for individuals illegally modifying a device is a fine of up to $20,000 or imprisonment for up to 24 months or both. We will press on with our enforcement and public education efforts, and will review the need for further measures.