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SHANGHAI’S 3 million scooter and moped riders face tougher penalties for not having license plates, under new rules taking effect next month.

Riders of scooters, mopeds and motorized tricycles without a license — or with out-of-town license plates — will face a fine of up to 200 yuan (US$33) under new city regulations on the management of non-motor vehicles.

Currently, they get a warning or a fine of 5 yuan.

Shanghai’s scooters and mopeds come under the non-motor vehicle category, and license plates are issued by the city traffic management authorities free of charge.

But many scooters and mopeds on local roads have no license plates.

While the new regulations are introduced on March 1, there will be a period of grace for riders, with penalties not imposed until September, officials said.

Meanwhile, riders with out-of-town license plates must get a local license before using city roads under the rules, local police said.

The regulations include a list of scooter and moped models authorized on safety grounds, excluding those deemed to have dangerous components.

Vehicles not on the approved list are not eligible for a license, under the regulations.

The Shanghai Industrial and Commercial Administrative Bureau and Shanghai Quality and Technical Supervision Bureau said they will crack down on irregularities in the production and sale of scooters and mopeds not on the approved list.

Other safety issues addressed include bad road behavior and improving traffic safety awareness.

And fines for anyone found to have altered or forged a licenses will be up to 5,000 yuan — instead of 5 yuan or a warning at present.

Riders using these licenses will be fined up to 500 yuan, also up from 5 yuan.

The regulations also state that only one person under 12 years old can be carried on a scooter, moped or bicycle, and that riders between 12 and 16 years old cannot carry passengers.

The speed limit for scooters and mopeds is 15 kilometers per hour.

Traffic accidents involving non-motor category vehicles have risen in recent years, rising 2.5 percent in 2011 on the previous year and 10.7 percent in 2012 on that figure.