Authorities in Paung Township, Mon State, began seizing motorcycles with sidecars on public roads starting April 7.
The Paung Township Road Safety Committee has been conducting awareness campaigns since November 2024 in preparation for enforcement actions against sidecar motorcycles.
According to local residents, these vehicles are being confiscated due to their involvement in an increasing number of traffic accidents.
A Paung resident said, “The vehicles were seized today. Because of the sidecars, the rate of traffic accidents has increased in Paung, which led to the crackdown. To get their vehicles back, owners have to make payments at the police stations.”
Currently, residents from villages such as Thapyaykone, Alhup, Nyaungkonelay, and Htanpinchaung in Paung Township must pay monthly fees to local police stations to operate motorcycles with sidecars.
“To continue using sidecar motorcycles, we have to pay a monthly fee to the Alhup and Htanpinchaung police stations. Some pay 5,000 kyats, others pay 10,000 kyats. But people from Moke Ta Ma and Mawlamyine don’t have to pay anything,” another resident said.
Authorities have so far seized six sidecar motorcycles at the Paung Township Police Station, nine at the Zin Kyaik Police Station, and six more at the Moke Ta Ma Police Station.
The Township Traffic Safety Committee announced that motorcycles recently seized for being equipped with sidecars will be returned to their owners after the sidecars are removed. However, the committee warned that if these motorcycles are found operating with sidecars again, the owners will face legal action under the Motor Vehicle Act, which carries a penalty of up to three years in prison.
