Sharjah: Police here have seized 20 vehicles and fined 130 others this month in a campaign against reckless driving.
Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Al Kay, Deputy Director of the Traffic and Patrol Department at Sharjah Police, said the police in the emirate have intensified efforts to prevent motorists driving modified and noisy vehicles from disturbing the peace in neighbourhoods.
“The culprits were organising illegal rallies and performing stunts on the roads and causing chaos and panic among other motorists,” the official said.
Confiscated vehicles included "hot rod" cars with engines running louder than usual on residential roads and highways.
“Modified vehicles cause disturbance to residents and also pose a safety hazard to other motorists and, ultimately, these drivers put their own lives at risk,” he added.
Public complaints
He said the police had received several complaints from the public about teenagers annoying them at night by racing in noisy vehicles and endangering other road users.
“We have to take strict measures against them to deter others from similar behaviour, and the department is determined to end this practice to make the roads safer,” he added
Sharjah Police will not tolerate any incidents of road rage and harassment and will take strict measures against reckless drivers, he said.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Saif Ziri Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, pointed out that police will exclude vehicles coming from car dealerships even if the engine runs louder.
Regular vehicles with modified engines running louder violates the Federal Traffic Law, the official said.
The decision was taken based on the public's suggestions and complaints against the owners of such vehicles.
Brig. Al Shamsi said traffic officers will examine the vehicle first after being flagged down, before issuing the fine.
The motorist will then be given appointment to visit the traffic department in order to check the vehicle.
A special technical team will check the vehicle in case the motorist objects to the initial decision.
