TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Consumers' Foundation (消費者文教基金會) warned Monday (Oct. 27) that outdated regulations for electric personal mobility devices threaten public safety in Taiwan. The consumer advocacy group highlighted several incidents where current laws failed to address safety and liability issues adequately.
The foundation cited a Songshan District, an area in Taipei, case where an electric scooter collided with a pedestrian last year. Authorities imposed only an NT$1,200 (around US$39) fine under clauses banning slow vehicles from roads. Another 2023 incident involved students in New Taipei City's Xinzhuang District (新莊) colliding with a motorcycle while riding unregistered vehicles.
Despite regulations requiring registration and insurance for mini electric vehicles, insufficient public awareness and lax enforcement misled parents about registration requirements. The foundation noted that despite an April 2022 amendment incorporating electric scooters into the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例), Taiwan's traffic law, local governments have not announced legal riding zones.
The lack of implementation dates for revised regulations allows stores and e-commerce platforms to continue selling electric scooters, misleading consumers about legal requirements. The foundation emphasized insufficient enforcement of mobility device regulations. Common violations like riding without lights or helmets often result in verbal warnings from police.