Law puts 400,000 bikes under state supervision
Published: 11 Nov. 2009, 01:33
Scooters are coming under the cosh with new regulations meant to curb pollution, reduce crime and prevent accidents. The main change is that motorbikes with an engine capacity of less than 50 cc will have to carry license plates beginning in 2011, according to the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs yesterday.
This means that scooter owners will not be able to drive away from accidents as easily as they do now and riders will have to start getting driving licenses, buying auto insurance, paying auto tax and reporting the changes of the ownership.
The ministry said a revised car management act has passed a cabinet meeting. The previous act did not define scooters as a two-wheeled vehicle requiring state management, which the ministry said created various social problems such as crime, traffic accident and pollution. The ministry estimated the number of scooters across the country to be 400,000.
“The car management act does not stipulate the duty regarding license, insurance and tax,” said an official of the ministry on condition of anonymity, “but it is highly possible for the police and other authorities to revise relevant laws to impose such duties on owners of the less than 50 cc motorbikes after the measure we took today.”
By Moon Gwang-lip [[email protected]]
This means that scooter owners will not be able to drive away from accidents as easily as they do now and riders will have to start getting driving licenses, buying auto insurance, paying auto tax and reporting the changes of the ownership.
The ministry said a revised car management act has passed a cabinet meeting. The previous act did not define scooters as a two-wheeled vehicle requiring state management, which the ministry said created various social problems such as crime, traffic accident and pollution. The ministry estimated the number of scooters across the country to be 400,000.
“The car management act does not stipulate the duty regarding license, insurance and tax,” said an official of the ministry on condition of anonymity, “but it is highly possible for the police and other authorities to revise relevant laws to impose such duties on owners of the less than 50 cc motorbikes after the measure we took today.”
By Moon Gwang-lip [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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