Seizure and forfeiture of non-compliant mobility devices
When the Land Transport Authority may forfeit a seized non-compliant bicycle, power-assisted bicycle, personal mobility device or mobility vehicle, and how claims and disposal are handled.
Primary source: https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/RTA1961?ProvIds=pr95-%2Cpr95A-%2Cpr95B-
When forfeiture may be ordered
Road Traffic Act section 95B applies to a non-compliant bicycle, power-assisted bicycle (PAB), personal mobility device (PMD) or mobility vehicle that has been seized or taken to a place of safety under section 95 or 95A. The Act defines non-compliance by reference to whether the device's construction, weight or accessories meet the applicable prescribed requirements; the definition for mobility vehicles refers to the Active Mobility Act 2017 (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, ss. 95–95B).
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) may order forfeiture when it is satisfied that the vehicle is non-compliant, was the subject matter of or was used in an offence under sections 5, 5A, 5B or 10 or rules under section 6, no claim was made by a person other than the person from whom it was seized or required to take it to a place of safety (or that person's agent) by the end of 30 days, and a person was convicted or the suspected offence was compounded. These are cumulative conditions in section 95B(1) (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 95B(1)).
LTA may order immediate forfeiture if it considers that keeping the seized non-compliant vehicle would be dangerous, or that keeping it at a place of safety materially increases the likelihood of a fire there (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 95B(2)).
Claims and disposal
If a qualifying third party makes a claim in the prescribed manner, LTA may release the vehicle or refer the matter to a Magistrate. After an inquiry, a Magistrate must order forfeiture if it is proved that the vehicle was used to commit a listed offence; without that proof, the Magistrate may order its release. The Act places the burden of proof on the person asserting ownership and on the person from whom the vehicle was seized (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 95B(3)–(5)).
After forfeiture, LTA may sell the vehicle and uncollected items left in or on it by public auction or tender, or destroy or otherwise dispose of them. Before acting, LTA must publish notice in the Gazette at least 7 days beforehand for an immediate-forfeiture vehicle under subsection (2), or at least one month beforehand for another vehicle (Singapore Statutes Online, Road Traffic Act 1961, s. 95B(7)–(7B)).
Coverage debt
The cited legislation does not set out a step-by-step public service process for making a claim or requesting release. Check with LTA for the current procedure; this guide summarizes the statutory framework only.