Errant motorists face hefty penalties

Cars can be seized for a month if police guidelines are broken during festivities Colonel Shawaf Mohammad Abdul Rahman, DirectorGeneral of the Traffic and Patrols department, said the police will impound vehicles blocking traffic and damaging public prope

Motorists who violate Sharjah police guidelines regarding how cars can be . decorated or behave inappropriately during the National Day celebrations will attract hefty penalties — including the confiscation of cars for one month, a fine and 12 black points.

The guidelines, issued by the police on Monday, prohibit any unauthorised car parades during the celebrations between November 28 and December 8.

Sharjah Police’s Traffic and Patrols department launched an awareness campaign to familiarise motorists with practices and behaviour that are prohibited under the law and called on drivers to comply with the requirements.

Spraying paint

Colonel Shawaf Mohammad Abdul Rahman, Director- General of the Traffic and Patrols Department, said the police will immediately impound vehicles blocking traffic and damaging public property such as pavements. These vehicles will be later moved to the main car pound for one month and vehicle owners will be fined and given 12 black points.

He also urged motorists who are taking part in the parade to obtain permission from police departments and to comply with the guidelines, which state that the vehicle’s colour must remain unchanged and inappropriate or obscene words and phrases must not be pasted on the car.

Vehicles should not carry more than the permitted number of people and passengers must not stick any part of their body out of the vehicle. Tinting or coloured windscreens are also banned, he said.

He also warned motorists against stopping their cars in the middle of the road and spraying paint on other vehicles.