I bought an electric bicycle from AliExpress last year and have been riding it since then. The cycle has both a paddle assist and throttle on the right handle as well. I have never before got in trouble with the police or even got any fines or anything like that before as well. But today while coming back from work, I was riding my bike as usual (using both the throttle and paddle assist), and suddenly cops stopped me and took me in for questioning. They concluded that my bike was equivalent to a gentsuki (small scooter) and that I needed a valid licence to drive it (which I didn’t have). Also, I had no idea that I had to even get a licence for it in the first place as well.. I registered my cycle with the police when I bought it as well (Jitensha bohan touroku) and also got insurance for it as well.. But today at the end they wrote me a red ticket for riding on the pedestrian side and also riding without a licence..
They assured me again and again that as this was the first time, it wouldn’t get prosecuted and I wouldn’t be fined as well. But still, I’m worried shitless if I would be fined or prosecuted for this..
Can anyone confirm or deny this if they have gone through the same situation? They also wrote in the report as I said to them as, “I regret this incident and if I knew that riding it required a licence, I wouldn’t have bought it in the first place.”
Any help would be appreciated.. Thanks a lot.
by _A_L_V_I_N_