Electric Scooter Rentals Surface in Pattaya, Prompting Legal Issues

[PoorSucker]

2 hours ago, brianthainess said:

Watt say you ?   

Ohm my god, you could not resist.

[pattjock]

On 5/21/2024 at 6:51 AM, KhunLA said:

Already posted link ... if it has 2 or 3 wheels, and motorized, it's a motorcycle and need registration.

 

Size of motor is irrelevant.  Read the motor vehicle code, available online.  Or unofficial translation here.

 

The link you posted is from a 1979 law, when there were no e-bikes. This has been amended several times since. From info I've seen if the motor is less than 500W and there are pedals it is classified as a bicycle. This means no registration, no license to drive and no helmet. These new rental bikes looks like they would be over 500W and no pedals so need to be registered, require a license to drive and a helmet.

[KhunLA]

5 minutes ago, pattjock said:

 

The link you posted is from a 1979 law, when there were no e-bikes. This has been amended several times since. From info I've seen if the motor is less than 500W and there are pedals it is classified as a bicycle. This means no registration, no license to drive and no helmet. These new rental bikes looks like they would be over 500W and no pedals so need to be registered, require a license to drive and a helmet.

And your link of those little tidbits of info .. ?

[pattjock]

39 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

And your link of those little tidbits of info .. ?

It's notoriously hard to find this information here in Thailand. These kind of things are regulated by DLT here in Thailand and their definition of an electric motorbike is this:

 

Electric motorcycles must be at least 250 watts and be capable of 45kph.

 

Note that this is the minimum speed.This would mean that any electric bike with a maximum speed less that 45kph would be classified as a bicycle, without regard of the size of the motor.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/30402252

[it is what it is]

It looks like there are staff members, possibly of Chinese origin but, even though i'm a 'reporter' i couldn't be bothered to find out.

[Smokin Joe]

3 hours ago, pattjock said:

 

The link you posted is from a 1979 law, when there were no e-bikes. This has been amended several times since. From info I've seen if the motor is less than 500W and there are pedals it is classified as a bicycle. This means no registration, no license to drive and no helmet. These new rental bikes looks like they would be over 500W and no pedals so need to be registered, require a license to drive and a helmet.

 

The current law is still the one dated 1979 but there have been multiple changes to the since then.

 

I've attached the English translation that is found on the Thai Council Of State website.

 

I put the link in also but it didn't work correctly afterwards. I'll try again.

 

Vehicle Act

 

 

Note the definition of "motorcycle"

“Motorcycle” means a vehicle driven by motor or electric power with
not more than two wheels, or not more than an additional wheel in a sidecar, and
shall include a bicycle equipped with motor driven devices;

 

 

Vehicle_Act_BE_2522_(1979).pdf

Edited May 22 by Smokin Joe
Tried to get link to work.

[connda]

On 5/17/2024 at 4:04 PM, Lee65 said:

fire hazard

Death on wheels.

[KhunLA]

5 hours ago, pattjock said:

It's notoriously hard to find this information here in Thailand. These kind of things are regulated by DLT here in Thailand and their definition of an electric motorbike is this:

 

Electric motorcycles must be at least 250 watts and be capable of 45kph.

 

Note that this is the minimum speed.This would mean that any electric bike with a maximum speed less that 45kph would be classified as a bicycle, without regard of the size of the motor.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/30402252

I read that as the minimums to be registered, and anything else is illegal.   

 

And not legal, simply because it's smaller, as anything with 2 or 3 wheels that is motorized IS a motorcycle/mb.  And must be registered.

 

This blip simply states the minimums to be registered.  Not registered, not allowed to operate on public roads.

 

edit: just saw Smoking Joe's link, a better translation and verifies what I thought, and nothing resembles the nation new-blip.  

 

Matter of fact, it did add the term bicycle to be included as a MC/MB ...

... "“Motorcycle” means a vehicle driven by motor or electric power with not more than two wheels, or not more than an additional wheel in a sidecar, and shall include a bicycle equipped with motor driven devices"

Edited May 22 by KhunLA

[KhunLA]

Nation news-blip is nothing more than an op-ed, as no source provided.

Edited May 22 by KhunLA

[pattjock]

9 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Nation news-blip is nothing more than an op-ed, as no source provided.

The information in the Nations News was taken directly from the official website of the DLT:

 

https://www.dlt.go.th/th/public-news/3083

 

This site outlines the minimum speed and motor size for different categories of electric vehicles that must be registered.

 

In the case of Thailand the DLT have decided that electrically powered vehicles with a maximum speed of less than 45kph do not need to be registered. In this category you will find electric bicycles, electric wheelchairs, electric mobility scooters and other vehicles. All with a maximum speed less than 45kph to avoid the need of registration.

 

This makes perfect sense as most other countries also allow these vehicles based on a maximum motor size, maximum speed or both.

 

If anyone can find any official sites that contradict this, please let us all know.

 

 

[KhunLA]

50 minutes ago, pattjock said:

The information in the Nations News was taken directly from the official website of the DLT:

 

https://www.dlt.go.th/th/public-news/3083

 

This site outlines the minimum speed and motor size for different categories of electric vehicles that must be registered.

 

In the case of Thailand the DLT have decided that electrically powered vehicles with a maximum speed of less than 45kph do not need to be registered. In this category you will find electric bicycles, electric wheelchairs, electric mobility scooters and other vehicles. All with a maximum speed less than 45kph to avoid the need of registration.

 

This makes perfect sense as most other countries also allow these vehicles based on a maximum motor size, maximum speed or both.

 

If anyone can find any official sites that contradict this, please let us all know.

That only states what is mandatory to be registered, not the exception to be allowed to operate.

 

All vehicles must be registered to operate on public roads.

 

What other countries allow is irrelevant.   Believe what you want, but when PoPo decides to cite you, I wouldn't argue with them.

 

Luckily, with few exceptions, and apparently at tourist destination, the law is ignored for those vehicles that don't look like  motorcycles.  Those blue things at Patts, certainly do, and hard to ignore.   They don't even have pedals.

 

UP2U ... but certainly invites getting cited.   As I stated, my ebike (DIY Schwinn conversion) has 1000w motor and will easily do 40 kph, but I keep it around 25 kph, as don't want the attention, especially since I don't wear a helmet.   Beside brakes & suspension not made for higher speeds.

 

Before you chime in, I always wear a helmet when riding my E-MC.

Edited May 23 by KhunLA

[pattjock]

5 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

That only states what is mandatory to be registered, not the exception to be allowed to operate.

 

All vehicles must be registered to operate on public roads.

 

What other countries allow is irrelevant.   Believe what you want, but when PoPo decides to cite you, I wouldn't argue with them.

 

Luckily, with few exceptions, and apparently at tourist destination, the law is ignored for those vehicles that don't look like  motorcycles.  Those blue things at Patts, certainly do, and hard to ignore.   They don't even have pedals.

 

UP2U ... but certainly invites getting cited.   As I stated, my ebike (DIY Schwinn conversion) has 1000w motor and will easily do 40 kph, but I keep it around 25 kph, as don't want the attention, especially since I don't wear a helmet.   Beside brakes & suspension not made for higher speeds.

 

Before you chime in, I always wear a helmet when riding my E-MC.

It only states what is mandatory to register because that how laws work. If you tried to make a list of exceptions it could be a mile long.

 

Bicycles do not have to be registered. Nor do electric bicycles, with a max speed of less than 45kph

 

Anyway, I will happily ride my electric bicycle, max speed 40kph, until someone can find an official site with other information. So far I've been stopped hundreds of times driving a car or motorbike, but never been fined for anything. Never been stopped on my electric bicycle after 8 years of driving around daily.

 

[KhunLA]

29 minutes ago, pattjock said:

It only states what is mandatory to register because that how laws work. If you tried to make a list of exceptions it could be a mile long.  Bicycles do not have to be registered. Nor do electric bicycles, with a max speed of less than 45kph   Anyway, I will happily ride my electric bicycle, max speed 40kph, until someone can find an official site with other information. So far I've been stopped hundreds of times driving a car or motorbike, but never been fined for anything. Never been stopped on my electric bicycle after 8 years of driving around daily.

Not really, and you could simply state "anything less", and or has pedals.  Simple enough.

 

Hey ... UP2U ... but I certainly wouldn't cruise by PoPo in a tourist area without being registered/tagged/inspected/insured.   That's what that windshield/faring placard is for, to tell them who's legal or not.

 

Now you've entered 'say anything' to justify your thoughts, 100's,,, really.  Have a nice day.

Edited May 23 by KhunLA

[pattjock]

I can understand that you would be a bit worried driving around with a 1000W bike, that can easily do 40kph or probably over 45kph, which would be illegal

 

My bike is limited to 40kph, but like you I drive slower. The important thing is that the bike must not be able to reach a speed of 45kph.

 

8 years driving in Pattaya have not given me any problems with the PoPo