What will happen to the “fake motorcycles,” scooters, motorcycles and mopeds that have been banned from Quebec roads since Tuesday? While several questions remain unanswered, we know from the outset that they will not be able to be registered. And already, several of these vehicles have been put up for sale by users.
Could the devices become legal?
No, because the vehicles banned on Tuesday by the ministerial decree will not be able to be formally registered. “It is not possible to register a vehicle that does not comply with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS), because this vehicle would not comply with the safety standards for use on the road,” a spokesperson for the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ), Anthony Bérubé, clearly stated on this subject in response to our questions. In short, for users who thought they could continue to use these types of vehicles legally by complying with certain criteria, it seems that this will not be possible.
How will the regulation be implemented?
It is not yet known how the Montreal Police Department (SPVM) and other police forces in the province will apply the new regulations. In principle, however, the police officer or peace officer will have to base their decision “on the physical and visual characteristics of the vehicle to determine whether it is covered” by the ministerial order, states the SAAQ. “For example, a vehicle would be covered if it does not bear the national safety mark or the conformity label required by the Motor Vehicle Safety Act “, illustrates Mr. Bérubé, recalling that several characteristics are provided for in the decree to help patrol officers to take action.
Which vehicles are affected?
- Unauthorized vehicles equipped with footrests or a foot platform;
- Unauthorized vehicles equipped with a set of tires and wheels that have the appearance of a motorcycle;
- Unauthorized vehicles with bodywork covering the components or frame;
- Unauthorized vehicles that can reach a speed greater than 32 km/h or a power of more than 500 watts;
- Unauthorized vehicles that do not have a height-adjustable seat.
- Please note: several exceptions remain in the decree published in the Official Government Gazette. It also makes no mention of electric scooters, whose circulation was legalized last year on streets where the maximum speed is 50 km/h or less.
Consult the ministerial decree
How is the industry reacting?
Major electric scooter vendors contacted by The Press had not responded to our questions at the time of publication. That said, DoorDash Canada, many of whose delivery drivers use this type of vehicle, recalled that “the vehicles affected by this ban were already prohibited from sale in Quebec.” “When the [conducteurs] “When they sign up, they agree to drive vehicles that comply with all local regulations. The vast majority of them comply with these requirements and the Highway Code, because they are expected to obey the law like any other driver,” says spokesman Trent Hodson.
Are we already seeing impacts on sales?
Yes. Right away, on social networks and resale sites like Kijiji, sellers of electric scooters or mopeds have multiplied since Tuesday’s announcement. However, very few ads mention the ban in effect in Quebec, we were able to note The Press. In electric scooter communities, concern and incomprehension have also been palpable since Tuesday, with some Internet users even mentioning having contacted the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC) or the Québec Ombudsman to assert their rights. “It’s a real scandal! What do we do now with our scooters and our batteries? Frankly, it wasn’t the idea of the century, neither to relieve congestion on the roads, nor for the environment,” illustrated one user.
Are voices beginning to denounce the decision?
Some, including former Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Wildlife and Parks Daniel Breton, now president of Electric Mobility Canada. In his eyes, the government is in this matter “in direct contradiction with its objective of decarbonizing transportation.” “If people are buying these vehicles, it is clearly because we have chosen as a society to move to electric modes of transportation. And it’s not just cars and trucks, micromobility is part of it,” he says. “I think there is a risk of throwing the baby out with the bathwater,” concludes Mr. Breton, who would have first liked to see the government negotiate with importers to “modify certain criteria” related to safety.
Read the article “Non-compliant motorcycles and scooters banned throughout Quebec”