Fewer people caught for illegally modifying electric bikes
By Ng Lian Cheong | Posted: 11 December 2011 2203 hrs
SINGAPORE: Fewer people were caught for illegally modifying their electric bicycles in the first four months of this year.
The number dropped by more than 10 percent to 264 compared to the same period last year.
But some like Mr William Ong were caught repeatedly.
Mr Ong has been caught three times in five months for riding an illegally modified bicycle.
He had paid some S$1,000 for an electric bicycle which had been approved by authorities.
But he was slapped with a S$500 fine for adding a button that powers up the bike automatically.
Mr Ong said he knew it was illegal to do so, but added the modification allows him to ride uphill with ease, because he has leg problems.
He was fined S$300 the first two times when he borrowed his friend's illegally modified bike to ride.
Mr Ong said the modifications were done by someone at a bicycle shop, who had warned him that it is illegal to do so.
But when Channel NewsAsia news team visited the store, the shopkeeper denied having done so.
In a reply to Channel NewsAsia, the Land Transport Authority said merchants who illegally modify electric bicycles may be fined up to S$500.
Repeat offenders may be charged in court.
- CNA/ir
