Dubai Police seize 27 vehicles for violating traffic laws
These penalties are necessary because it takes only one driver to kill many or cause severe damage to other vehicles, says official
In a traffic crackdown on Al Qudra Street in Dubai, the Al Barsha Police Station has recently confiscated 27 vehicles for violating traffic laws such as driving without a licence, concealing plate numbers, heavily modifying cars with power boosters to increase the engine speed, causing a nuisance, and endangering their lives and the lives of other road users.
According to Brigadier Abdul Rahim Bin Shafia, Director of Al Barsha Police Station, the traffic campaign was aimed at ensuring road security, reduce the number of traffic injuries and related deaths, and protecting properties and holding violators accountable for their reckless actions.
Brig. Bin Shafia said they carried out the campaign in coordination and collaboration with the General Department of Criminal Investigations (CID), Al Hebab Police Station and Al Faqaa Police Station.
Brig. Bin Shafia explained that it was very likely that drivers lose control when driving heavily modified cars, especially if engine modifications were made in a way that do not match the type of vehicle or roads. He also indicated that modified vehicle accidents could be deadly and result in the deaths of innocent people and other road users. He also reminded that engine modifications or changes to a vehicle’s base or chassis without authorisation were subject to a Dh1,000 fine and 12 black points. In addition, the vehicle would also be impounded for 30 days. “These penalties may be intensified depending on the case,” Brig. bin Shafia confirmed.
“These penalties are necessary because it takes only one driver to kill many or cause severe damage to other vehicles and the infrastructure. Modified cars give a false sense of control to the driver so they think their vehicle has enough power and speed to dangerously overtake others and to perform risky manoeuvres,” he continued.
Brig. Bin Shafia pointed out that Dubai Police have launched many safety awareness campaigns to raise awareness among the community on heavily modified vehicles, especially among the youth, confirming that additional accessories do not fit properly to many vehicles. “It is difficult to imagine a car with a max speed of 200km/h travelling at a speed of 400km/h. Such modifications are bound to cause serious and deadly accidents,” he said.
Bin Shafia stressed that road safety was everyone’s responsibility. “Together, we must unify efforts and maintain the safety and security of our roads,” he urged.
The director of Al Barsha Police Station also warned motorists against covering or concealing the plate number, stressing that violators would be fined Dhs400 as per the federal traffic law.
Anearlierreportsaidthedubaipoliceannounced the start of the sixth edition of the “specialists in combating human trafficking” programme, which will be held virtually over five months, in cooperation with the Dubai Judicial Institute, the National Commitee to Combat Human Trafficking and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, UNODC.
The programme will prepare qualified personnel from UAE law enforcement agencies to gain investigation skills and latest methods in detecting human trafficking rings.
The inauguration was atended by Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al Jarman, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for Human Rights and International Law and Deputy Chairman of the National Commitee to Combat Human Trafficking; Hatem Ali, Regional Director of the UNODC in Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, Countries; Brigadier Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Murr, Director of the General Directorate of Human Rights at the Dubai Police; Colonel Badran Al Shamsi, Director of the General Directorate of Training; Colonel Dr. Sultan Al Jammal, Director of the Human Trafficking Crimes Monitoring Centre at the Dubai Police, and the programme’s participants.
The sixth edition of the programme will involve 91 recruits from 30 authorities ranging from police departments, local and federal prosecution authorities, the Emirates Human Rights Association, Dubai Airports, and national women’s and children’s care centres, in addition to 24 participants from Saudi Arabia, two from Bahrain, five from the GCC Police Department, and four from Oman and Kuwait.
In his opening speech, Al Jarman said, “The programme is a distinguished national and regional initiative that reflects the aspirations of the UAE’S leadership and its keenness to eliminate human trafficking.”