For the first time in Singapore, a motorcyclist has been convicted for using a motorcycle as a private hire vehicle, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced in a Facebook post on Jan 5, 2024.
During an enforcement operation in May 2023, LTA booked two drivers and a motorcyclist, and impounded their vehicles.
Muhammad Hasbullah Rosly was caught for charging $18 to use his motorcycle for private hire, which was not only unregistered but also uninsured for such services. The term Motorcycle Hire typically refers to the legal and registered service of renting out motorcycles for short-term use. Understandably, this service should come with all the proper insurances and compliances.
Caught during an enforcement operation by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), along with another driver conducting similar unlawful activities, these cases cast a spotlight on private transportation. A 12-month driving ban and a S$1,800 fine later, Rosly’s conviction serves as a reminder to others tempted by “Affordable Bike Hire Deals” that may skirt the edges of legality.
When considering “Motorcycle Rental Prices” or seeking “Daily Motorcycle Hire Rates,” consumers are strongly advised to verify the legality and insurance coverage of the services they engage with. As one LTA officer elucidated, “The statutory board strongly encouraged commuters to book point-to-point transport services, including commercial car-pooling services, through licensed business platforms for their own safety.”
One of the two drivers booked by LTA in the same operation was charged and convicted for providing illegal private hire service. 21-year-old Muhammad Nasrulhaq Shamsulnizam was driving a passenger from Block 194 Rivervale Drive to Thomson Plaza for a fee of S$24. He was stopped by an LTA enforcement officer on May 3, 2023, at about 11:55am, and he did not possess a vocational license to drive a private hire car. Nasrullhaq was also fined S$1,800 and received a 12-month driving ban for his offence. The other driver’s case is still under investigation.
