Officials give electric scooters a test ride
PHUKET OFFICIALS HAVE APPROVED the use of electric scooters at the Phuket Provincial Hall complex on the south side of Phuket Town as a test phase to confirm how safe the “micro-mobility” vehicles are to use.
The approval was announced at Provincial Hall on Apr 27 during a visit by representatives from Beam Mobility (Thailand) Co Ltd, which earlier this year was renting out electric scooters to tourists in Patong and other tourist-popular areas.
At the announcement on Apr 27 Beam Mobility Managing Director Jeff Payne led the handing over of two electric scooters for use by officials. Present to receive the scooters on behalf of Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew was Kanathip Sukcharoen, Head of the Phuket Provincial Office.
The scooters will be used in security operations around the Phuket Provincial Hall complex, also called the “Phuket Government Center”, and for conducting inspections of construction at the site.
The scooters are to be at the Phuket Government Center for a period of 10 months. The scooters will be set up with a computer system to ensure that they are used within the government compound only, and not on public streets.
In February, Phuket police banned electric scooters from all public roads in Phuket.
People caught riding electric scooters on public roads may be fined up to B10,000 following an order issued by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong.
People caught riding electric scooters on public roads also could be charged with operating a vehicle without a valid licence under Section 64 of the same act, as no licence exists for operating electric scooters, as they are not recognised as vehicles by the Department of Land Transport and hence cannot be registered, Maj Gen Sermphan said in the order.
The penalty for operating a vehicle without a licence is up to six months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to B9,000, or both, Maj Gen Sermphan added.