Dili, 17 February 2026 (Média Democracia) – The National Road Safety and Traffic Directorate (DTSRN) and the National Directorate of Land Transport will take measures for Electric Motor (Scooter) users causing concern due to movements on public roads, often with children or minors riding and sometimes carrying two or three people, and not complying with the Road Code Law No. 6/2003, especially not wearing helmets and disregarding traffic signals.
Head of the Risk Management Coordination Department, Civic Education Training from the National Road Safety and Traffic Directorate, Assistant Superintendent Police Domingos Gama stated that DNTS and DNTT have signed a cooperation note to control the movement of electric motors (Scooters).
“Based on these concerns, recently two or three weeks ago, the Road Safety and Traffic Directorate and the National Directorate of Land Transport had a joint meeting to discuss how to take measures for small motors, because scooter motors are not considered bicycles but are considered in the road code No. 6/2003, article 101, regarding two-wheel and three-wheel motor cycles.” Said Assistant Superintendent Police Domingos Gama to journalists at the PNTL General Command this Monday (16/02)
Assistant Superintendent Police Domingos Gama added that the road code law also mentions transportation with wheels, and electric motors (Scooters) are considered under the category of small motorized vehicles.
“So, according to the road code, if it falls under the motor cycle category, then citizens using scooter motors need to have documents and a driving license so that if their movement involves an accident or involves signals or disobeying orders, we can take measures according to the road code.” Added the Assistant Superintendent Police
The Superintendent stated that according to article 120 of the road code law, citizens have the right to obtain a driving license at the age of 16 to 18, based on the driving license category.
“You know that to get a driving license category A1, it’s 16 years old, and for A, B, C, or category E, it requires 18 years old and above.” Stated the Assistant Superintendent Police
He informed that there are many electric motors currently in the capital Dili, and according to DTSRN’s observation, most are minors aged 10 or 11 years old who are dominating electric motors (Scooters). Therefore, the Road Safety and Traffic Directorate is working together with the National Directorate of Land Transport to take measures based on article 101.
“The scooter’s speed is almost the same as small motors, if it involves an accident, people can die. That’s why we discussed it together two weeks ago, there’s also a signed agreement between the two directors, the Traffic Director of Road Safety Directorate and the Director of National Land Transport Directorate, so we can inform the public.” Informed the Assistant Superintendent Police
In this occasion, the Head of Risk Management Coordination Department, Civic Education Training from the National Road Safety and Traffic Directorate also appeals to the public and parents to buy electric motors for children aged 16 and above and ensure they have documents.
“I want to take this opportunity to advise the public, especially parents who buy scooter motors, if you’re going to buy for your children, they should be adults, around 16 and above, then they can use it. When buying a scooter, you need to process the documents, the motors need to be registered so we can control them, and registered with the National Directorate of Land Transport, making it easier to control.” Reaffirmed the Head of Risk Management Coordination Department, Civic Education Training from the National Road Safety and Traffic Directorate, Assistant Superintendent Police Domingos Gama
He also requests that parents not allow their underage children to use electric motors (Scooters), as DTSRN and DNTT will conduct operations on electric motors in the capital Dili.
While detecting children and minorities using motors scooters, PNTL will stop and summon their parents to make a statement, in compliance with the Road Code law. Additionally, PNTL will also check the documents, so if there are no documents, it means the motor is illegal and PNTL will seize the scooter motor.
Reporting : Estefania
Photo : Estefania