Ras Al Khaimah: RAK Municipality on Monday banned Shisha smoking on the Corniches and warned that violators will be fined Dh200 on the spot , and it will be doubled if the violation is repeated.
The emirate's authorities have noticed an increasing number of people visiting the Corniche, bringing shisha to smoke with them. The Municipality have warned that such practice is against the law and the municipality will impose fines and take all the necessary official measures to ensure the practice is completely banned.
The authority, however, confirmed that there will be no changes for shisha cafes on the Corniche.
However, they warned cafes that they will be fined and punished if they serve shisha outside the cafe boundaries.
Mubarak Ali Al Shamsi, Head of RAK Municipality said municipal inspectors will have the entire Corniche area under the microscope, to make sure the municipal decision No. 5, 2010, is implemented, effective from Monday.
He said that the ban of the shisha on the Corniche was only a part of a cleanliness and public health package which has been implemented.
He said that a fine of Dh500 will be imposed on individuals who throw anything out of the windows of their vehicles. He added that drivers and their passengers are not allowed to throw anything of their cars including waste and cigarettes. He warned that the first time fine of Dh500 will be doubled upon repeat offences.
Al Shamsi said that the same fine will be imposed on those who spit from their cars and the fine for this will also be doubled if repeated.
He added that those who leave garbage behind them in public parks without using bins will be given a fine of Dh500 to be doubled if the violation is repeated.
He continued that destroying public bins, cutting trees or plants or destroying the chairs and seats in public areas will be faced with an immediate fine of Dh1,000 along with a compensation determined by the municipality.
Al Shamsi added that shops are not allowed to leave anything on street pavements - violators to this rule will be fined Dh500, to be doubled if the violation is repeated.
He added that the those who dump coal in garbage containers will be fined Dh500 and the department will double the fine on the second time.
Al Shamsi said that the aim of implementing these decisions was to put an end to the increasing violations some people have been committing in direct violation to public health norms.
Violators will have to settle their fines on the spot or else the municipal inspectors will seize their IDs and ask them to refer to the premises of the emirate's Municipality which will keep a record of the violators for a future use.
Do you think this is a good idea? Was your outing ever ruined because of the smell?
