A questioner from Dubai asks: One month ago, I was driving without a UAE licence and I had an accident in which many cars were damaged. When the police investigated the accident it showed that it was not my fault but they insist to put me in jail for driving without license. My file was referred to the public prosecution which in turn referred the case to the traffic court. Next month is my judgement date. My question is: what is the penalty stipulated by the traffic law in respect of such accident? Please advice.

Answer: I would like to clarify to the questioner that article no. 51 of the Traffic Law No. 21 of 1995 states the following: a penalty of imprisonment not exceeding 3 month and a fine not more than Dh6,000, or one of these penalties, shall be applied to those who drive in the road without driver’s licence or having a licence which is not authorised to drive this type of vehicle”.

Readers’ questions are answered by Advocate Mohammad Ebrahim Al Shaiba of Al Shaiba Advocates and Legal Consultants