445 Hoverboards Seized, Raising Safety Concerns Under the Tree

By GREG HAMBRICK

A large seizure by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents at a Virginia port provides an important reminder to shoppers nationwide about the most popular gadget under the tree this year — and also one of the most dangerous.

For example, Chappaqua firefighters were called Dec. 6 to a home where an electrical malfunction caused a Swagway Smart Balancing Electric Skateboard Black (purchased from Modell’s Online) to catch fire and cause considerable smoke damage to the residence.

Customs officials working Wednesday at the Port of Norfolk seized 445 hoverboards with counterfeit trademarks, as well as a fake and potentially dangerous batteries.

Safety on a self-balancing scooter is clearly a concern for some users — officials suggest a helmet and pads similar to bike gear.

But high-profile videos of hoverboards catching fire while in operation or while charging has fire marshals stressing the importance of buying from reputable manufacturers.

Read more: 9 Hoverboard Safety Tips: Avoid Fires, Falls and #Fail

Valued at more than $171,000, the hoverboards confiscated Wednesday were discovered during an inspection of a shipping container. The hoverboards had batteries manufactured in China displaying a “Samsung” trademark that was determined to be counterfeit.

Mark Laria, the area port director for Customs and Border Protection, stressed the serious health and safety hazards of counterfeit products.

“By seizing untested and potentially hazardous products at our nation’s borders, CBP officers protect the American consumer and contribute to a safe holiday season,” he said.