Dubai: A chief traffic prosecutor has cautioned drunk drivers to be more vigilant and law-abiding as otherwise they could face a three-year imprisonment and have their licences confiscated for one year.
Those who drink and drive could also face a hefty fine of Dh30,000, chief traffic prosecutor Salah Bu Farousha, Head of Dubai Traffic Public Prosecution (TPP), said.
"Between January 1 and May 13 of 2010, TPP has referred 394 drivers to [the] traffic court for driving under the influence of alcohol. Our team of traffic prosecutors constantly seeks to increase traffic safety by acquiring tough and deterrent traffic court verdicts against reckless and errant drivers who are caught drinking and driving.
Tough measures
"We will relentlessly combat reckless drivers, in general and intoxicated drivers, in particular, no matter what it takes, by asking courts to impose the toughest judgments," Bu Farousha told Gulf News.
He added that 355 driving licences were revoked, based on court orders, between January 1 and May 13, 2010.
"TPP has obtained traffic court orders to revoke licences of intoxicated drivers for periods varying between three months and one year.
"We contacted the Roads and Transport Authority to enforce the revocation immediately. During the revocation periods, those drivers could not sit behind the wheel… anyone found driving during the revocation period, according to article 50 of the Traffic Law, faces up to six months in jail and a maximum fine of Dh5,000," Bu Farousha said.
The 2007-revised traffic law stipulates that any individual who consumes alcohol and drives or attempts to drive a vehicle faces between one month and three years in jail and/or a fine varying between Dh20,000 and Dh30,000.
Bu Farousha also warned drivers against driving after consuming alcohol.
"We are very serious in that regard because the consequences will eventually be drastic and tragic," he said.
A drunk driver, who kills someone in an accident, faces between one and three years in jail and a fine, he warned.
According to the traffic law, intoxicated drivers, who accidentally injure someone, face a maximum two years in jail and a fine.
Corroborating his warning, Bu Farousha said the Traffic Court of First Instance recently jailed an Afghan driver for three months and fined him Dh20,000.
Additionally, the 23-year-old Afghan was banned from obtaining a driving licence for two years.
The court charged him with drunken driving, driving inattentively and hitting another vehicle while driving without a licence.
Other cases
Recently, the traffic court also revoked a 25-year-old Tunisian employee's driving licence for a year, jailed him for two months and fined him Dh20,000 for drunken and reckless driving and hitting a taxi on Jumeirah Beach Road.
Additionally, a 29-year-old Russian saleswoman had her licence revoked for one year and was jailed for a month and fined Dh20,000 after the traffic court convicted her of drunken driving and recklessly running into two taxis in Muraqqabat.
Statistics
- Between January 1 and May 13 of 2010, 394 drivers were referred to traffic court for driving under the influence of alcohol
- 355 driving licenses were revoked, upon court orders, between this year's January 1 and May 13 for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Is this a good way to reduce the number of people driving under the influence of alcohol? What other rules or methods could make roads safer?
