It was supposed to be the hottest holiday gift of the season, but safety concerns over hoverboards has led major retailers such as Amazon and Overstock to pull them from their sites, according to TODAY.com.
There have been 11 reports in 10 states of the electric scooters bursting into flames, says the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The quality of the lithium-ion batteries used to power the boards can vary depending on the model, with cheaper components making them more at risk to catch fire.
The CPSC is currently conducting a thorough investigation. “We’re looking at a very wide array of models and products,” said Scott Wolfson, spokesman for CPSC. “We want to know who’s selling them, where and through what means.”
According to Wired.com, an exploding hoverboard burned down a house in Louisiana a few weeks ago, while a gyroboard recently caused significant damage to a home in New York. And at a mall in Washington this week, a scooterboard caught fire, forcing shoppers to evacuate during the busy holiday shopping season.
A major obstacle is that The Toy Industry Association does not consider hoverboards toys because they are primarily used for transportation, so there are no regulations for them. With that in mind, Amazon has pulled nearly all of the brands from its site, and has requested any sellers for “documentation demonstrating that all hoverboards you list are compliant with applicable safety standards.” Overstock has stopped selling them completely.
And NYC residents might want to skip spending the money on a hoverboard—not just because of safety concerns, but because riding one is now illegal in all five boroughs, according to PIX11.com. The NYPD has issued a statement that New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law “requires all motor vehicles to be registered with the NYS DMV,” and if they cannot be registered “they are not permitted.” If you get caught riding one through, you can face up to a $500 fine—while the hoverboards sell for around $400.
