Salik teething troubles continue

Dubai: Motorists who go through the Salik toll gates without a Salik tag are not being fined, Gulf News has learnt.

"I passed through the Salik gate last month and I did not have a Salik tag. I made a traffic fine inquiry, but there was no fine," said a motorist.

Another motorist said she passed under the Salik toll gates several times without affixing the tag on the windscreen, but was not fined.

An Indian salesman said he bought the tag and kept it on his car dashboard for several days, but did not get any fines. The salesmen had passed through the toll gates several times.

But a Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) spokesperson said, "All violations have been 'captured' since mid-July, after the decision of RTA to cancel any violation for the first 15 days of Salik.

"These fines go through several processes of review and then get posted to the traffic file of the car owner."

He however, did not explain how long it would take to post the fines, if any. A source at RTA said the system has been facing some technical glitches and some people are also facing problem in receiving information about their accounts, but he refused to explain further.

Coin trick

Meanwhile, Gulf News has also learnt that a Dh1 coin can beat the Salik system. If you hold the coin behind the chip of the Salik tag, you are not charged the toll fees.

"The Salik system does not read the chip on your Salik tag if you take a coin and press it behind the chip of the Salik tag on the windshield while passing through a Salik gate," said a motorist, who did it several times and saved money on toll charges since Salik was launched last July 1.

This reporter tested the claims of motorists and passed through the Salik gate several times holding a Dh1 coin behind the chip of the Salik tag and found out later that the system did not read the chip and did not deduct the Dh4 Salik fee. No fine was imposed for the violation.

This reporter passed through both the Al Barsha and Al Garhoud Salik gates on Shaikh Zayed and Shaikh Rashid Roads respectively, several times using the same technique and the result was same -no charge and no fine as the tag was not read.

No deduction

The Salik account of the reporter on the website showed no money was deducted from the Salik account or any fine imposed. The Salik website only showed the record of those trips without using the coin behind the Salik tag.

When asked about this problem, the RTA spokesperson said: "The Salik system is not cheatable through any technique. If the tag is not read for any reason, a vehicle's registration plate number will be captured when it passes through the toll gate. This is the technique that is also used for tolling motorbikes."

But he did not explain why it did not show on the Website Salik account and why the toll fee was not deducted from the Salik account. According to the Salik website, a motorist has to buy a Salik tag and fix it on the windscreen of the car to pass through a toll gate.

He or she has to pay Dh4 every time the car passes through the gate and the amount is deducted automatically through a Radio Frequency Identification System which is used to read the Salik tags.

"A vehicle is identified by the system through communication with the small, thin Salik sticker tag affixed on the windscreen," the website reads.

Warning: Readers should not try cheating the Salik system as it is a violation of the law and they may get fines at later stages.

Gulf News is not responsible for any liabilities incurred by those who try this.

Busy cities put on toll gates on roads where people coming outside the city pay them. I live in Dubai, why should I pay when I want to get from point A to point B in Dubai? This is insane! People coming from Sharjah or Abu Dhabi should pay a toll fee, not people already living in Dubai.
Milad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 16:24

The quality of life has gone from bad to worse over the past few years in Dubai and the attitude of the government has been lackadaisical. Salik has not helped much. Roads and parking spaces have become scarce. It is a pathetic situation.
Raj
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 15:54

In countries like Canada, they have a better toll system. Here is how the system works: When I went through the toll road in Toronto I didn't know that I was being charged. A few days later I received in my mail box the toll road bills. I didn't have to buy a tag, nor register for it. And by the way, no fines but charges because you don't have to buy a tag! This shows that the reason behind Salik is to get another source of revenue "diversification" and not to fix the mess.
Khaled
Abu dhabi,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 15:36

I think we'd better obey the rules and regulation of the country. Whatever the government is doing, it's for the better and easier life of us. I bought my Salik card from the first day and use it frequently.
Mahmoud
Ruwais,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 15:09

I bought a salik card before the toll gates were activated, but I have not yet received my Salik account number.
Mohammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 12:41

I feel that the Salik system has many loopholes. I have taken the tag since one month ago and until now I still did not get any account number or pin. I have called the Salik hotline several times but they only gave excuses.
Deepda
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 12:15

I think Salik has reduced the number of cars travelling through particular areas, although it has not yet given the expected results. There are still traffic jams in areas like Deira.
Asim
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 11:07

It seems that there is a big group of drivers acting like kids who are doing everything "illegal" behind their parents back. Do not add work to the RTA by bringing into public how badly you cheat and behave.
Kristiina
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 10:32

I believe there are some technical problems, which RTA should rectify rather make excuses for.
Umesh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 10:14

RTA seems to be doing very much to develop the road system for the future. I would like to remind everyone: It is not the RTA's fault that drivers do not obey traffic rules and regulations. It is also not the RTA's fault that drivers are blocking the other roads just to avoid the toll gates.
Mayra
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 10:09

The RTA should look into this matter so that other users will not feel cheated.
Bhavesh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 09:13

I think we can do without Salik. Aside from the flaws in the system, there is still a huge traffic jam along Al Khail Road and Emirates Road.
Abdul
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 08:07

I left Dubai on the day Salik started working. It was a waste of time and effort because I see it failing. I would love to see it more in trouble because it was the silliest idea to gain extra money from residents.
Zus
Melbourne,Australia
Posted: October 06, 2007, 07:47

Everyone should have the moral awareness on why such things are implemented. As long the attitude is not changed, no accidents and other traffic problems can be solved.
Baiju
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 04:11

I bought the Salik Tag in early June and have seen my Salik account being promptly deducted from the first day it was introduced. I feel that it is unfair for me having to pay for the toll for the first 15 days when those without the Salik Tag are being given a free travel.
Saiful
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 06, 2007, 02:44