GCC drivers 'will not escape traffic fines'

Dubai: Motorists from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries who commit traffic offences here will be fined when they return home, said a senior police official.

Lieutenant Colonel Ali Saeed Al Matroushi, Director of traffic section at Ajman Police Licensing and Traffic Department, said if a motorist commits traffic offence in any GCC country he/she will be fined according to the law of that country.

Lt Col Al Matroushi said many motorists in the UAE and other GCC countries are not aware that they cannot escape penalties if they commit traffic offences in any GCC country.

"Motorists from the GCC commit traffic offences and break the law here because they are not aware of the law and that their fines will be sent immediately to their countries. They have to pay it there and the fine amount will be transferred here to us," he said.

He said there is an agreement between all GCC countries that if any motorist commits an offence in any country, the fine will be transferred immediately to the country of the offender.

"We send them our traffic fines and they send us the traffic fines belonging to vehicles from the UAE," he said. Many motorists break traffic laws when they visit a GCC country thinking that they can escape the law.

"When the person tries to renew registration of his or her vehicle they will find out the traffic offence they committed here is on their record.

"We receive every year a huge number of radar fines for vehicles with UAE number plates for speeding on the road from Muscat to the UAE or on the way from Salalah to the UAE," he said.

"We sometimes seize vehicles with GCC number plates if they break the traffic law here," he said.

Residents here often complain about the driving habits of some motorists from neighbouring countries. They say many are ignorant of the traffic laws here. They drive on the hard shoulder and overtake other vehicles on the wrong side.

"I have seen many motorists who seem to be unaware of the laws here. It can be quite scary on the roads," said Marwa Sebai from Syria.