Dubai has introduced amendments to its traffic law, with a range of serious violations now carrying hefty fines and penalties for motorists. The updated regulations will take effect on Thursday, July 6, and aim to enhance road safety and curb dangerous driving practices. Among the notable changes are fines of up to Dh100,000 for certain offenses, with vehicles being impounded until the fines are paid.
According to the revised law, motorists will need to pay a penalty of Dh50,000 to retrieve their confiscated vehicles for violations such as reckless driving, jumping a red light, riding recreational motorcycles on paved roads, and using fake or forged number plates. Additionally, deliberately colliding with a police vehicle or allowing a person under 18 years old to drive will also result in the same fine.
Participating in a road race without prior permission from the police, a severe traffic offense, will carry a stiffer penalty of Dh100,000 for vehicle release.
Impounded vehicles associated with certain violations will require a payment of Dh10,000 to be released. These violations include making substantial modifications to the vehicle resulting in increased speed or noise, evading the police, driving without license plates, and gathering of drivers for the purpose of watching or participating in races.
Furthermore, Dubai Police will administratively impound a vehicle if the total traffic fines have exceeded Dh6,000. The owner will need to pay the accumulated fines to retrieve the impounded vehicle.
In cases where the vehicle owner fails to claim the impounded vehicle after the impoundment period expires, they will be required to pay an additional fee of Dh50 for each day beyond the specified period.
To release an impounded vehicle, motorists must meet certain conditions, including the payment of all fines related to the vehicle's traffic file, rectification of the violation, and compliance with any other conditions set by Dubai Police.
In addition to the penalties outlined in the law, non-UAE national drivers of heavy vehicles who run a red light will face administrative deportation from the UAE.
Dubai's new regulations also introduce extended impoundment periods and increased release fees for repeat offenders. If a vehicle is impounded again within one year for the same offense, the impoundment period will be doubled, not exceeding 90 days. Similarly, the release amount for a repeat offense within a year will be doubled, capped at Dh200,000.
These amendments underscore Dubai's commitment to improving road safety and ensuring that motorists adhere to traffic laws. By implementing stricter fines and penalties, the aim is to create a safer and more responsible driving culture in the city.
