The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has impounded 42 personal mobility devices (PMDs)^[1] operated by Neuron Mobility, Telepod and Beam. The impounded PMDs were found available for hire at public places, in contravention of the Parking Places Act^[2].

2.  PMD-sharing operators are currently not permitted to operate on public land without a licence or an exemption by the Minister for Transport. To date, exemptions have only been granted for operators such as Telepod to provide PMD-sharing services at one-north. This is in light of an existing agreement they have with landowner JTC to conduct PMD-sharing services at this location. These operators are strictly not allowed to provide PMD-sharing services at public places beyond the specified boundaries in one-north.

3.  Neuron Mobility’s and Telepod’s impounded PMDs were found available for hire at public places such as Bencoolen Street and Bayfront Avenue. A Beam PMD was found available for hire at Bugis MRT station and was impounded as the operator has not obtained an exemption to provide PMD-sharing services in any part of Singapore, despite prior notice of the regulatory requirements.

4.  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. Besides impounding the PMDs, LTA is investigating Neuron Mobility and Telepod for providing PMD-sharing services at public places without a licence or exemption. LTA would like to remind all operators that when evaluating licence applications, LTA will consider their track record, including their compliance with the law and regulatory requirements.


Annex: Photos of the impounded e-scooters from Neuron Mobility, Telepod and Beam

^[1] These comprise 26 Neuron Mobility electric-scooters (e-scooters), 15 Telepod e-scooters and 1 Beam e-scooter.

^[2] Under 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 $10,000 and/or face a jail term of up to six months; and a further fine of $500 per day that the offence continues after conviction.