{"id":13217,"date":"2025-11-21T00:09:34","date_gmt":"2025-11-20T16:09:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=13217"},"modified":"2025-11-21T00:09:34","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T16:09:34","slug":"30-mobility-devices-seized-by-lta-to-tackle-rise-in-fires-linked-to-illegal-devices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/?p=13217","title":{"rendered":"30 mobility devices seized by LTA to tackle rise in fires linked to illegal devices"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">SINGAPORE \u2013 <!-- -->Thirty non-compliant active mobility devices were seized by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a recent islandwide enforcement operation to tackle the rising number of fires involving such devices in residential areas. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The three-day operation targeted HDB estates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">LTA enforcement officers also engaged device owners to explain the potential hazards of owning and using a non-compliant device, said Minister of State for Transport Baey Yam Keng at the close of the enforcement blitz in Yishun on Nov 20. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">He added that LTA is considering tougher enforcement action against the keeping, use and sale of non-compliant mobility devices.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">From January to October 2025, there were 44 fires involving mobility devices. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In 2024, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/fires-involving-amds-up-again-in-2024-with-21-8-rise-in-cases-more-people-died-in-fires?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">67 blazes involved such devices<\/p>\n<p><\/a>, up from 55 in 2023 and 42 in 2022. There were 63 such fires in 2021 and 68 in 2020.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The majority of the 30 devices seized during the operation were illegally modified<!-- -->, Mr Baey said. <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"30 non-compliant mobility devices were seized by LTA in 3-day operation\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/x81xekK1S8k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Investigations will be carried out to determine the extent of any regulatory breaches, and appropriate penalties will be imposed on the owners in accordance with the law, said LTA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Common illegal modifications include changing electrical parts such as the battery and <!-- -->electric <!-- -->motor to third-party or non-original versions, which voids safety certification and poses significant fire risk.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">More than 700 non-compliant mobility devices were seized between January and October 2025, LTA said on Nov 20.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cOwners of non-compliant devices are endangering not just the lives of their families, but the lives of their neighbours as well,\u201d Mr Baey said. <\/p>\n<p><iframe class=\"responsive-iframe-base none\" title=\"dynamic_iframe_wrapper\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/xb7pS\/1\/\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer;undefinedclipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share;\" loading=\"lazy\" data-testid=\"responsiveIframe\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">On Nov 5, a fire linked to a personal mobility device (PMD) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/40-evacuated-4-taken-to-hospital-after-pmd-linked-fire-in-yishun?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">broke out at Block 475B Yishun Street 44<\/p>\n<p><\/a> at about 2.30am, causing about 40 people to be evacuated and four to be taken to hospital.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">This was less than four hours after another fire involving a personal mobility aid <a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/4-taken-to-hospital-200-evacuated-after-pma-linked-fire-at-ang-mo-kio-hdb-block?ref=inline-article\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"gap-x-04 items-center inline text-primary-60 select-auto\" aria-label=\"link\" target=\"_blank\" data-testid=\"custom-link\"><\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular inline\" data-testid=\"paragraph-test-id\">at an HDB block in Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4<\/p>\n<p><\/a> late on Nov 4. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">In a Facebook post on Oct 30, LTA said it had raided a retailer in Yishun that allegedly modified PMDs by adding extra batteries. Three non-compliant devices were seized and investigations are ongoing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cSuch alterations put both device users and the public at risk,\u201d LTA said. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"landscape inline-media-wrapper\" data-testid=\"inline-media-test-id\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-start relative w-fit\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 480px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/ca1ea858227f0cefe6ac14884354b629933901478650568feee25a8d59388d70?w=480\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 720px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/ca1ea858227f0cefe6ac14884354b629933901478650568feee25a8d59388d70?w=720\"\/><source media=\"(min-width: 721px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/ca1ea858227f0cefe6ac14884354b629933901478650568feee25a8d59388d70?w=900\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cassette.sphdigital.com.sg\/image\/straitstimes\/ca1ea858227f0cefe6ac14884354b629933901478650568feee25a8d59388d70\" alt=\"\" class=\"aspect-landscape flex items-start shrink-0 object-cover landscape article-landscape mobile:w-auto tablet:w-auto\" data-testid=\"image-test-id\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/picture><\/div><figcaption class=\"mobile:mx-16 tablet:mx-00 flex flex-col gap-08 py-16 desktop:pb-24\">\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-secondary\" data-testid=\"inline-media-caption-test-id\">The majority of the 30 devices seized during the three-day operation were illegally modified.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-eyebrow-baseline-regular text-placeholder\" data-testid=\"inline-media-credit-test-id\">ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">From January 2020 to August 2025, LTA detected more than 100 offences by retailers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">E-bikes and motorised and non-motorised PMDs such as e-scooters and kick-scooters are considered active mobility devices.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Personal mobility aids, such as motorised wheelchairs and three- or four-wheeled mobility scooters, also fall under this category. These are designed for those unable to walk or who have walking difficulties.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">LTA urged the public to buy mobility devices only from reputable sources, and to check for defects and modifications when purchasing second-hand devices online.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">\u201cPurchasing non-original components or from non-authorised retailers today may be cheaper, but may come at a cost to you and your loved ones tomorrow,\u201d Mr Baey said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Motorised devices here are required by law to meet safety standards \u2013 UL2272 standards for motorised PMDs and EN15194 standards for e-bikes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">These standards require the devices to pass a series of tests including the safety of their electrical systems. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Only devices that meet these standards can be imported into and used in Singapore. <\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">The authority said it works closely with the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and Singapore Customs to stem the inflow of non-compliant devices by identifying and taking enforcement action against those who import such devices without approval.<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-body-baseline-regular text-primary\" data-testid=\"article-paragraph-annotation-test-id\">Those found guilty of using non-compliant mobility devices may be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both. Repeat offenders face a fine of up to $20,000, up to a year\u2019s jail, or both.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div data-testid=\"tags-test-id\">\n<p><button data-testid=\"button-test-id\" class=\"layer-one border-default border interactive-button text-primary disabled:layer-disabled hover:disabled:layer-disabled default\" aria-label=\"button for Personal mobility devices\"><span class=\"font-button-md-semibold\">Personal mobility devices<\/span><\/button><button data-testid=\"button-test-id\" class=\"layer-one border-default border interactive-button text-primary disabled:layer-disabled hover:disabled:layer-disabled default\" aria-label=\"button for LTA\"><span class=\"font-button-md-semibold\">LTA<\/span><\/button><button data-testid=\"button-test-id\" class=\"layer-one border-default border interactive-button text-primary disabled:layer-disabled hover:disabled:layer-disabled default\" aria-label=\"button for Fires\"><span class=\"font-button-md-semibold\">Fires<\/span><\/button><button data-testid=\"button-test-id\" class=\"layer-one border-default border interactive-button text-primary disabled:layer-disabled hover:disabled:layer-disabled default\" aria-label=\"button for Road safety\"><span class=\"font-button-md-semibold\">Road safety<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/singapore\/transport\/30-mobility-devices-seized-by-lta-to-tackle-rise-in-fires-linked-to-illegal-devices\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read Full Article At Source <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SINGAPORE \u2013 Thirty non-compliant active mobility devices were seized by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a recent islandwide enforcement operation to tackle the rising&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1864,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2611],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-buzz-headlines","wpcat-2611-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=13217"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13217\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=13217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=13217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=13217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}