Draft legislation on electric bikes awaiting Cabinet’s approval – AG

In light of mounting concerns about the use of electric bikes on the country’s roadways, the Guyana Government is moving to amendment the current legislation to regularise this new mode of transportation, which has a growing presence across the country.
This is according to Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister Anil Nandlall, SC, during his weekly programme – Issues In The News.

Given the influx of electric bikes in Guyana, Nandlall has disclosed that increased complaints are pouring in from various stakeholders on the danger these bikes pose on the local roadways.
“We are receiving complaints wide and far that these electric cycles are being used in a manner dangerous to the public; that they present a traffic hazard; that the persons who are riding these bikes are not equipped with helmets or any other protective gear; that they are riding recklessly, and it is a dangerous situation,” the Attorney General posited.
Currently, there are no laws in Guyana to govern the use of electric bikes on the roadways, something which local authorities have been grappling with when it comes to regularising their operations.
However, AG Nandlall disclosed that steps have been taken to amend the relevant laws in order to regularise the use of these bikes.
“The Government has decided to bring a legislative regulatory framework into place to address the manner in which these electronic bikes or electric bikes are going to operate on our public roadways. So, amendments to our traffic laws and regulations are already in draft for Government’s approval, and once they are approved, the procedure would have to be followed for them to be promulgated and become enforceable,” the Minister stated.
Only last month, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) said it was working along with sister agencies, such as the Guyana Police Force (GPF), regarding the requirements for importation, registration, licensing and related liability insurance for electric bikes. This was after the Police has issued a statement to say that the GRA was registering all electric bikes. But the Revenue Authority has since clarified that it is not registering or licensing electric bikes, electric cycles or electric golf carts until the relevant laws are implemented.
Nevertheless, the Police Force has since embarked on a sensitisation campaign to educate persons on the dangers of these bikes on the roadways. Moreover, the Police have called on persons under the age of 16 to desist from riding these bikes.
On February 17, Bibi Sophia Mohammed, a 17-year-old resident of Non Pareil, East Coast Demerara, died after her electric bike collided with a truck on the Coldingen Public Road, ECD. At the time of the accident, the teen was the pillion rider while her 16-year-old sister, who was also injured, was riding the bike.
Up to two weeks ago, Commander of Police Division 4 ‘C’ (East Coast Demerara), Senior Superintendent Khali Pareshram, told this publication that the truck driver has been released on bail as the Police await legal advice on the matter.
According to local reports, however, there were some seven road fatalities recorded last year that involved electric bikes.
“We already have a traffic accident problem in this country. We already have a high incidence of road carnage. We already passed legislation to deal with drunken driving and the way people or operators of bars are to conduct themselves vis-à-vis selling of liquor to drivers… The need has arisen for us to make another change, and we are prepared to do so,” AG Nandlall stressed.
In November 2022, the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill was passed in the National Assembly to toughen existing laws to prevent drunk driving and the resulting carnage on the roads.
Draft amendments to the Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act, as well as the Intoxicating Liquor Licensing (Amendment) Bill, were approved by the Cabinet in March of last year with the aim of toughening up the penalties for drunk drivers and the bars that serve them.
The Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic Act amended the principal Act and put in place a new Section, 35A, which now makes causing the death of someone through drunk driving a case of vehicular manslaughter.
The draft Bill also amends Section 39A of the Principal Act – the penalty for driving while over the alcohol limit – replacing the $7500 fine with $200,000, and the sentence of 12 months with 24 months.
It has also amended the penalty for driving under the influence and losing control of your vehicle, to be increased from its current $30,000 to $60,000 fine/imprisonment for 12 months, to $200,000 for first-time offenders and $300,000 for second-time offenders.