The Dubai Police has introduced an awareness campaign of Decree No. 30 of 2023 amending some articles of Decree No. 29 of 2015 regarding the impoundment of vehicles in Dubai.
In a statement released on Friday, the Dubai Police said the campaign eyes to raise awareness among all motorists about the new legal amendments, designed primarily to protect lives and property and ensure traffic safety in Dubai, aligning with the nation’s strategic goal of reducing the traffic death rate per 100,000 population.
According to Major General Al Ghaithi, the amendments target reckless drivers, and that the harsh fines it implements are against “vehicle impound release”, not for the value of the traffic violation that is applied under the federal traffic law.
Brigadier Juma bin Suwaidan explained the new amendments include violations such as jumping red lights, driving with fake or obscured number plates, deliberately colliding with police cars, allowing individuals under 18 to drive vehicles, and gathering to watch or participate in illegal races. The fine for releasing an impounded vehicle for these violations is AED 50,000.
Additionally, violations also include driving without license plates, gathering to watch or participate in disorderly crowding around races or vehicle stunts on the road, and exceeding the permissible tinting limit for vehicle windows. The fine for releasing an impounded vehicle for these violations is AED 10,000.
Each case is presented to a specialized committee in the General Department of Traffic to determine whether the violation rises to the level of applying this fine or not.
Dubai Police Launches Awareness Campaign on Amended Traffic Lawhttps://t.co/OQfKpPcQMT @DubaiPoliceHQ pic.twitter.com/1f140fTql0
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) July 7, 2023
Suwaidan also stated that the remaining six grounds for impounding vehicles include “participating in road races without prior permission from the police”, with a AED 100,000 fine. Additional violations include “riding recreational motorcycles on paved roads” and “recklessly driving in a way that endangers lives, property, and public safety in the Emirate”. The fines for these two offences are set at AED 50,000 each.
He added that the fine for the violation of “making fundamental changes to the vehicle that result in an increase in the set speed or noise during operation or driving” and the offense of “escaping from the police” amount to AED 10,000 each. The final violation is “exceeding the financial fine imposed on the vehicle by AED 6,000”; the penalty for this offence involves paying the accumulated fine amount.
Meanwhile, Lt. Col Dr Saud Al Rumaithi noted that the campaign will run over seven weeks.
“It consists of two stages, the first being “The Awareness and Education Phase”, while the second will measure the impact and results of this awareness on the motorists,” Al Rumaithi said during a press conference held at Dubai Police Headquarters.
From 2019 to 2022, the Dubai Police has recorded 164 fatalities due to over speeding, reckless driving, serious traffic violations, and jumping red lights.
