Electric Scooter Rentals Surface in Pattaya, Prompting Legal Issues

[snoop1130]

 

Electric scooters that can be rented through an app are now popping up in popular tourist spots in Pattaya. This has raised questions from locals about their legality and potential problems they could cause.

 

These scooters can be seen lined up on streets such as Pattaya Beach Road, Second Road, and Jomtien Beach Road. They come with baskets that hold instructions on operating them. To use them, individuals need to download the "GOGO BIKE" app, register, scan a QR code, and pay 249 baht for a day's rental. The app also shows where to park and rent the scooters, which are in various tourist locations in Pattaya.

 

Residents told Pattaya News reporters around the scooter parking spots that they've been there for some time and seem to mostly be used by tourists. They weren't sure who owned them.

 

The scooters seem to be from a business located in Pattaya South’s Duck Square project, where hundreds of identical blue scooters are found. It looks like there are staff members, possibly of Chinese origin, who manage them from an office. The Chonburi Immigration Office is checking into the legality of this rental business.

 

Based on Thai road traffic laws, electric scooters are classified as motorcycles under the 1979 Vehicle Act. This means it's illegal to operate them on public roads without the necessary registration and licenses. Violators of this Section 6 of the Act could incur a fine of up to 10,000 baht.

 

Some Pattaya locals have expressed worries about the legality of these scooters and are calling for relevant authorities to look into the matter. There are fears that these scooters could lead to situations seen in Phuket, where tourists were arrested for riding similar electric scooters on public roads without the necessary permits, despite being told they were legal and didn't need licenses or registrations.

 

File photo for reference only. Courtesy of Google

 

-- 2024-05-17

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

[Lee65]

fire hazard

[balo]

Accidents waiting to happen, and no helmets? 
 

[connda]

32 minutes ago, snoop1130 said:

Some Pattaya locals have expressed worries about the legality of these scooters and are calling for relevant authorities to look into the matter. There are fears that these scooters could lead to situations seen in Phuket, where tourists were arrested for riding similar electric scooters on public roads without the necessary permits, despite being told they were legal and didn't need licenses or registrations.

 

I bet they went after the foreign tourists and gave a pass to the establishment that rented them the "illegal" scooter.  Bets?  (not REAL bets of course).
Of course, it seems that foreign tourist who have never been on any kind of motorcycle think they can come to Thailand and drive without consequence when they would be steeply fined in their own country for driving without a proper license.  But registrations?  Nope - that's the responsibility of the establishment renting the vehicle.  But going after tourist for an unregistered rental vehicle is, well, low-hanging fruit. 

[connda]

More carnage-mobiles for the road-thresher to reap.

 

[KhunLA]

Silly news-blip, as the photo could be completely different from what is actually being rented.   

GOGOBIKE has a FB page, which I'm not allowed to post.  On that page they do show e-bike, as in bicycle, which would be illegal.   Also show a motorbike looking scooter, without tags, also illegal.

 

Was it not the stand on small electric scooters (1st photo) that were the issue, not necessarily 'a problem', except for the competition.

 

These are all e-scooters / bikes / MB/MC, depending who's talking...

 

Illegal ...

 

Illegal

 

Legal ... DECO brand / registered

(not same as photo (possibly not registered ?)

 

From GOGO page .. probably what is being rented .. competition not happy ? 

 

 

[merijn]

11 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Silly news-blip, as the photo could be completely different from what is actually being rented.   

GOGOBIKE has a FB page, which I'm not allowed to post.  On that page they do show e-bike, as in bicycle, which would be illegal.   Also show a motorbike looking scooter, without tags, also illegal.

 

Was it not the stand on small electric scooters (1st photo) that were the issue, not necessarily 'a problem', except for the competition.

 

These are all e-scooters / bikes / MB/MC, depending who's talking...

 

Illegal ...

 

Illegal

 

Legal ... DECO brand / registered

(not same as photo (possibly not registered ?)

 

From GOGO page .. probably what is being rented .. competition not happy ? 

 

 

If i'm not mistaken are e-bikes under 500 W with manual pedal support are legal for people over 15 years and don't need registration or insurance.

[pomchop]

In many many cities around the world the problem with all these e bikes and electric scooters and segways and electric skateboards is that most people ride them on the sidewalk weaving around pedestrians like the idiots they are...most of them are completey silent and many of them go fast so come up behind pedestrians fast and silent....so take one wrong step while out for a walk and get whacked.  At least  a motobike on the sidewalk makes noise so you hopefully can get out of those iditots way.

[KhunLA]

45 minutes ago, merijn said:

If i'm not mistaken are e-bikes under 500 W with manual pedal support are legal for people over 15 years and don't need registration or insurance.

I guess if people repeat and hear things enough, they think it's true ...

... it's not.   

 

I've heard 250w, 350w, and now up to 500w.  Mines 1000w, and I know it's illegal, just like all of them that are smaller.  There is not exception for size.

 

If it has 2 or 3 wheels and is motorized, no matter the size of motor, it is a motorcycle and needs to be registered and operator needs to be licensed.   Adding pedals doesn't negate that.

 

Also why I bought a DECO brand E-MC (3000w), as one of the few brands that can easily be registered, and all done by the dealer, at no extra charge.  They also offer 1000w & 2000w motor versions.   1000w scooters have removable batteries for those that don't have outside outlets (condo/apt dwellers).

 

It is the law, though not enforced, usually.

 

"Section 4
Definition: A motorcycle is a vehicle with two tires or less, which is powered with an internal combustion engine or an electric motor. In case it
accompanies a sidecar, it may have one more wheel.

(other definitions omitted)

 

Section 5
The Minister of Transport and Communications shall be in charge and control of the execution of this Act and shall have the power to prescribe such Ministerial Regulations as requirements of motor vehicles and their engines, standards for mirrors and horns, specifications for license plates, maximum loads and capacities for motor vehicles, etc.

 

Title1:RegistrationofMotorVehicles
Section 6
No one is allowed to use a motor vehicle on public roads unless such a vehicle is registered under this act. No one is allowed to use a motor
vehicle on public roads which is registered but whose owner hasn’t paid the annual vehicle tax."

[brianthainess]

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I guess if people repeat and hear things enough, they think it's true ...

... it's not.   

 

I've heard 250w, 350w, and now up to 500w.  Mines 1000w, and I know it's illegal, just like all of them that are smaller.  There is not exception for size.

 

If it has 2 or 3 wheels and is motorized, no matter the size of motor, it is a motorcycle and needs to be registered and operator needs to be licensed.   Adding pedals doesn't negate that.

 

Also why I bought a DECO brand E-MC (3000w), as one of the few brands that can easily be registered, and all done by the dealer, at no extra charge.  They also offer 1000w & 2000w motor versions.   1000w scooters have removable batteries for those that don't have outside outlets (condo/apt dwellers).

 

It is the law, though not enforced, usually.

 

"Section 4
Definition: A motorcycle is a vehicle with two tires or less, which is powered with an internal combustion engine or an electric motor. In case it
accompanies a sidecar, it may have one more wheel.

(other definitions omitted)

 

Section 5
The Minister of Transport and Communications shall be in charge and control of the execution of this Act and shall have the power to prescribe such Ministerial Regulations as requirements of motor vehicles and their engines, standards for mirrors and horns, specifications for license plates, maximum loads and capacities for motor vehicles, etc.

 

Title1:RegistrationofMotorVehicles
Section 6
No one is allowed to use a motor vehicle on public roads unless such a vehicle is registered under this act. No one is allowed to use a motor
vehicle on public roads which is registered but whose owner hasn’t paid the annual vehicle tax."

So does that include a mobility scooters and electric wheelchairs ?

 

 

[mikebell]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

possibly of Chinese origin,

 

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

it's illegal to operate them on public roads without the necessary registration and licenses. Violators of this Section 6 of the Act could incur a fine of up to 10,000 baht

As it's a Chinese company, no further action will be taken.

[vinny41]

Temporary suspension order Rent electric scooters in Pattaya Afraid of an accident

https://www.one31.net/news/detail/69766

[ujayujay]

4 hours ago, merijn said:

If i'm not mistaken are e-bikes under 500 W with manual pedal support are legal for people over 15 years and don't need registration or insurance.

These are not E Bikes and are called Electric Bicycles.....

[natway09]

Licenced or not licenced, over or under 50cc they still will add to deaths & injury on the road

[Robert Paulson]

Government getting ready to wet its beak once again 

[Guderian]

I see men speeding around the Jomtien and South Pattaya area on these things...

 

 

Not a fit bird like her, but guys who look far too grown up to be using a fancy children's toy that will leave them as nothing more than a large red stain if they are involved in an accident on a busy road.

[MrJ2U]

On 5/17/2024 at 5:11 PM, KhunLA said:

Silly news-blip, as the photo could be completely different from what is actually being rented.   

GOGOBIKE has a FB page, which I'm not allowed to post.  On that page they do show e-bike, as in bicycle, which would be illegal.   Also show a motorbike looking scooter, without tags, also illegal.

 

Was it not the stand on small electric scooters (1st photo) that were the issue, not necessarily 'a problem', except for the competition.

 

These are all e-scooters / bikes / MB/MC, depending who's talking...

 

Illegal ...

 

Illegal

 

Legal ... DECO brand / registered

(not same as photo (possibly not registered ?)

 

From GOGO page .. probably what is being rented .. competition not happy ? 

 

 

Definitely just the competition complaining.

 

 

[treetops]

On 5/17/2024 at 11:11 AM, KhunLA said:

Silly news-blip, as the photo could be completely different from what is actually being rented.

 

Looks like the original article came from The Pattaya News and was just reworded for here and a different (inaccurate) picture used.  Same paragraph structure and content throughout, just slightly modified language.  Not the first time I've noticed it from an AN newsbot.

 

https://thepattayanews.com/2024/05/17/rental-electric-scooters-pop-up-in-pattaya-raising-legal-concerns/

 

[pomchop]

16 hours ago, Guderian said:

I see men speeding around the Jomtien and South Pattaya area on these things...

 

 

Not a fit bird like her, but guys who look far too grown up to be using a fancy children's toy that will leave them as nothing more than a large red stain if they are involved in an accident on a busy road.

and even a fit bird that is so stupid not to wear a helmet will find someday that one little slip up and off to the hospital she will go if she is lucky enough to survive kissing the concrete with her once pretty little (empty) head

[SAFETY FIRST]

On 5/17/2024 at 3:33 PM, snoop1130 said:

"GOGO BIKE

How embarrassing. 

 

Good for nerdy guys. 🛵 🦼

 

 

I reckon they would be popular with the AN forum members that stalk you with their stupid confused emoji's. 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

21 hours ago, brianthainess said:

 

 

This is how the elderly foreigners in Pattaya ride their disability scooters. 😂

 

A menace to all other road users. 

 

[SAFETY FIRST]

21 hours ago, brianthainess said:

 

 

This guy should trade in in on one of these. 

 

Get the the old guy to buy a proper mobility vehicle. 

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

On 5/17/2024 at 5:11 PM, KhunLA said:

 

These are everywhere in downtown KL, Malaysia, and I use them all the time. 

[PoorSucker]

On 5/18/2024 at 10:59 AM, natway09 said:

Licenced or not licenced, over or under 50cc they still will add to deaths & injury on the road

Hmmm, how many cc is it when it's electric 

[PoorSucker]

2 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

These are everywhere in downtown KL, Malaysia, and I use them all the time. 

Stockholm, Sweden 

[Middle Aged Grouch]

The Thai cops must be dancing in glee as here is another new means to racket unwary falang tourists.

[KhunLA]

49 minutes ago, Middle Aged Grouch said:

The Thai cops must be dancing in glee as here is another new means to racket unwary falang tourists.

hmm ... you have some stating how dangerous they are, and now, you implying it will be a racket to enforce the law, do there job, as a money grab, instead of simply making things safer.

 

"We wish there was more enforcement " ...  "Police out extorting money again"

 

Simply doing their jog, and its ... Damned if they do, damned if they don't.

[Liverpool Lou]

On 5/18/2024 at 10:59 AM, natway09 said:

Licenced or not licenced, over or under 50cc they still will add to deaths & injury on the road

No electric scooters are "under 50cc", neither are any electric scooters "over 50cc".  As those don't exist, they'll make no difference to road deaths or injuries.

[Liverpool Lou]

17 hours ago, treetops said:

the original article came from The Pattaya News and was just reworded for here and a different (inaccurate) picture used. 

"..a different (inaccurate) picture used".

 The photo must be why the OP specifically stated..."File photo for reference only".

[Liverpool Lou]

13 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

 

I reckon they would be popular with the AN forum members that stalk you with their stupid confused emoji's. 

Are there really any members who care anything about, or even bother to look at, the emojis that their posts receive?  If there are, why?