The electric suitcase the woman was riding displayed at a traffic briefing by Osaka prefectural police on June 26. - FUKUSHIMA POLICE STATION
TOKYO: A woman in Japan has been charged by police after taking her electric suitcase out for a spin on a public pavement without having a licence to do so, making her the first person to prosecuted for it in the country.
The Chinese woman, a student and Japanese resident in her 30s, was spotted by a patrolling police officer riding her three-wheeled electric suitcase – a luggage bag that comes with an electric motor and handle bar – on a pavement in Osaka City on March 31, the police said on Wednesday (June 26).
Her suitcase could reach a speed of up to 13kmh and is classified in the same category as a moped or smaller motorcycles with engine capacities of up to 50cc, said the police, reminding the public that those riding electric suitcases must have an appropriate driving licence.
While licensed riders may use motorised suitcases indoors or on pavements, they are not allowed on roads and motorways in Japan as they do not always have brakes, headlights or signal lights to indicate turning.
The woman was charged by Osaka police on June 25 for violating the Road Traffic Act, Japanese media reported, citing local police.
The woman, who said she bought her motorised luggage from a Chinese online retailer, has denied the charges.
“I did not recognise it as a vehicle and did not think that a driving licence was required,” she reportedly told the police.
Electric suitcases have become increasingly popular, especially in China, where it was invented, and can typically carry a load of around 100kg.
In China, a woman was halted by traffic police while riding her suitcase to work on the streets of Shanghai in November 2023.
A local traffic policeman said riding the suitcase was allowed only in closed-off roads or indoor places, Chinese online news site NetEase reported. She was reportedly fined an undisclosed amount for being a safety risk.
K-pop stars such as Blackpink members have been spotted riding motorised suitcases, even in airports.
Tokyo’s Haneda Airport in February banned the use of electric suitcases in its terminals to avoid collisions with other travellers. Narita Airport, which serves the Greater Tokyo Area, advises users of electric suitcases to avoid driving them, but if doing so, to “be careful of your surroundings”.
These motorised suitcases, while not completely outlawed in Singapore, are subject to strict regulations.
In response to queries from The Straits Times, Changi Airport Group said riding the suitcases is prohibited in Changi Airport for the safety of passengers and visitors.
They can be used as carry-on or checked baggage by flying passengers if they meet a number of requirements, including having a removable battery.
A spokesperson for Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) said motorised luggage are categorised as personal mobility devices or e-scooters, and are not allowed on public footpaths or roads.
To be used on cycling paths, they must comply with LTA criteria that include weight, width, fire safety standard and a maximum device speed of 25kmh. - The Straits Times/ANN
